One Pendletonian's perspective on a long, beneficial relationship

The strength of a community often times is measured by the ability of its major business entities to collaborate. For 100 years, Pendleton Woolen Mills – an industry giant in our community – has been a quiet, strong and effective partner with the Pendleton Round-Up Assn. and Cunningham Sheep Co.

As a former Round-Up president and an owner of Cunningham Sheep Co., I have seen at close range the strength and vibrancy that Pendleton Woolen Mills’ presence creates in our community.

The image of the final day of the Pendleton Round-Up includes a nationally recognized professional cowboy celebrating his win with a victory ride as he wears a new Pendleton jacket while waving a new Pendleton blanket.

Beginning in 1962, Pendleton Woolen Mills assisted Lou Levy, general manager of Cunningham Sheep Co., as Mr. Levy created the junior Indian beauty contest. Pendleton Woolen Mills provides Indian beauty contest judges for the annual American Indian beauty contest and blankets for the winners. It also provides clothing for directors of the Round-Up and Happy Canyon. Pendleton also provides at a very reasonable cost new women’s clothing each year to outfit the Round-Up and Happy Canyon courts.

As if these collaborations were not enough, Pendleton Woolen Mills joined hands several years ago to launch what became the most successful money-making venture for the Pendleton Round-Up Assn. With a handshake between Mort Bishop, Jr., and board members of the Round-Up Assn., these businesses agreed to use of their common trade name “Pendleton” and “Let’er Buck” as well as the iconic trademark bucking horse to name a whisky now distributed in more than 40 states. The royalties from whisky sales support many capital improvements at the rodeo grounds and are the anchor financial support for the Centennial Grandstand now under construction.

In order to develop and maintain its reputation for high quality woolen products, Pendleton Woolen Mills has depended on local providers for raw wool. Throughout the mill’s 100 years, Cunningham Sheep Co. has provided a share of that wool from its registered Rambouillet sheep, which produce a very fine wool. These sheep include rams weighing 300 pounds and ewes weighing 200 pounds and a fleece that is often three inches thick.

Charles Cunningham came to Oregon in 1863, starting in the early 1860s a flock of sheep in the Birch and Butter Creek valleys. His first bucks were imported directly from Rambouillet in France and were mated with ewes trailed up from California. The Cunningham family sold its interest in 1905 and through subsequent changes, Mac Hoke and Donald Cameron acquired ownership in about 1930. It was a tribute to Pendleton’s long relationship with Cunningham that the Mill chose the Cunningham ranch as the site for its centennial catalog photo shoot.

The Levy and Corey families – direct descendents of Mac Hoke – count in their families Round-Up queens, princesses, Round-Up and Happy Canyon directors and presidents – all at one time or another outfitted in Pendleton Woolen Mills attire.

Personal relationships hold businesses and communities together. For 100 years, the Bishop family has nurtured through consistent contact Pendleton Woolen Mills’ connection with Cunningham Sheep Co. and the Pendleton Round-Up.

Steve Corey is a principal of Corey, Byler, Rew, Lorenzen and Hojem, a principal of Cunningham Sheep Co. and former

president of the Pendleton Round-Up.