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The Pendleton Whisky Wild West Daze Rodeo will be held at the John E. McNally Arena, February 15 and 16. This year’s rodeo plans to honor local cowboy hero, Tony Cain, a real star 'round these parts.
According to Valerie Stone, of the Kernville Chamber of Commerce, Cain was born into the cowboy life style. He began by saddling up, at just five years of age, to help his dad on a Shetland pony at the Twisselman Ranch.
Cain became hooked on riding and thereafter got his start in Junior Rodeo, riding steers before moving onto other things like bulls, team roping, and calf roping.
Cain’s professional prowess began at the San Emidio Ranch, where he worked as a cowboy. Cain moved on to the MU Ranch and worked for the Rudnick family. The Onyx Ranch in the Kern River Valley, became the Cain family’s home in 1983. Cain also worked with the Sprague and Hafenfeld Ranches, earning his reputation as an exceptional cowboy.
Cain first attended the Whiskey Flat Rodeo in 1983, which was where his long-standing friendship with rodeo legend, Cotton Rosser launched, and Cain became a regular and a helper at the event.
Cain was a young man of 20 when he began his work with Johnny McNally at the arena. Cain’s cumulative memories, with Johnny McNally, as announcer, span at least four decades.
Along the way, he has won the Bell Calf Roping for 10 years straight, and earned first-place team roping buckles, in the years 1987 and 2003.
In 2008 Cain started Kern Valley Livestock with his partners. Together they bred and raised world-class rodeo stock. A few of their bucking bulls were well known in the rodeo world including “Rio Bravo”, “White Blanket”, and “Big Naughty” who bucked at PBR events and PRCA rodeos. Cain won the first-place ribbon on his favorite roping horse.
On a personal note, Cain once saved a baby from a 2,000-pound bull, roping the large animal before it had the chance to charge through the cables. Tony has been married to his lovely wife Karen for 40 years.
The event is sure to please, presented by Grocery Outlet bargain market, and sponsored by Boot Barn, AltaOne, Flying U Rodeo, Applied Technology, Destiny Real Estate.
Tickets may be purchased at officialwhiskeyflatdays.com
