People gather around the new Let'er Buck bronze statue to take photos after an unvieling ceremony Saturday in Centennial Palza at the Pendleton Round-Up Grounds.

Centennial Plaza didnt exist for the 2009 Pendleton Round-Up. While local residents watched a chain link fence and narrow sidewalk transform itself into an welcoming facade for the Round-Up Grounds, those who havent been around will marvel at the wrought iron work, rustic wood ticket booths, brick pilasters and most of all, the bronze bucking horse by world-famous sculptor Austin Barton.

The statue will be a lasting monument of the rodeos centennial created by an artist who has his roots in Eastern Oregon. Barton was born and raised in the Snake River and Wallowa valleys and earned a living there breaking horses and doing farm work. He had a vision, however, of being able to make a living creating art. That vision has become a reality. Bartons work is in private collections around the world.

Round-Up Centennial Committee Chairman Tim Hawkins knew the plaza project needed a statue and he knew he wanted Barton to create it. A long-time admirer of the artists creations, Hawkins decided there was no harm in asking.

I didnt think we would be able to afford an artist of Austins reputation, but he told me, I dont charge for being famous, Hawkins said.

It seems that Barton and Hawkins actually shared the idea.

I was pleased, the sculptor said of being asked to create the statue. Over the years Ive thought about approaching them to do it and I was honored they came to me. It was quite a job.

Barton didnt stop there. In addition to the 14-foot statue, he is creating a limited edition series of 100 28-inch bronze replicas of the statue that have been selling quickly to Western art collectors and Round-Up fans.

We are really pleased by the response to the replica, Hawkins said. We anticipate there will be great interest in this piece both in Pendleton and in the Western art world.

The bronze sells for $5,000 with a $2,500 non-refundable deposit required. It takes two to three months to make the statue. If the bronze replicas havent sold out, orders may be placed at the Round-Up office across the street from the rodeo grounds. All proceeds from the replica sales go towards offsetting the cost of the Centennial Plaza project.