Sisters artist carves Rodeo trophy

Last updated 6/13/2023 at 3:52pm

Photo by Jim Cornelius

J. Chester Armstrong, Sandy Brink, and Patty Cordoni with the US Bank-sponsored all-around trophy.

The winner of the title All-Around Cowboy at Sisters Rodeo is the contestant who wins the most money over the weekend, usually having success in multiple events. Traditionally, that cowboy wins a saddle, which has been sponsored for decades by US Bank.

But when you're a successful rodeo cowboy, chances are you have more saddles than you have horses.

"This year we decided so many guys have multiple saddles, we wanted to do something special, rather than just another saddle," said longtime Sisters Rodeo Association officer Curt Kallberg.

The Rodeo Association asked Sisters artist J. Chester Armstrong to create one of his signature wood carvings, which was unveiled last week at sponsor US Bank.

"Stallion's Pride" is carved out of black walnut.

"It's a beautiful wood," Armstrong said. "The Cadillac of American wood, you could say."

Because the sculpture is carved out of a round log, the sculptor must allow the piece to flow with the curvature of the log. Armstrong said he was trying to convey the power and majesty of the horse, and he was most pleased with the result.

"It's the beauty of wood carving," he said. "It comes out how it's going to come out, and it's either perfect or it's not. And this came out perfect.... It says everything you want to say about the horse."

Armstrong was happy to be involved with the project, and appreciates that the trophy is actually made in the town that sponsors the rodeo.

The trophy will be awarded at the end of competition on the Sunday of Rodeo Weekend.

The Sisters Rodeo kicks off on Wednesday, June 7, with Xtreme Bulls, and runs through the weekend of June 9-11.

For tickets and information, visit https://sisters rodeo.com.

Author Bio

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.