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2022 President’s Ride Summary

2022-Juniper Springs Ranch-Mt. Vernon, OR
President’s Ride Report
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Ride Info:

President: Dick Noble

Vice President: MacGregor Hall

Secretary/Treasurer: Matt Bordonaro

Property Location: Juniper Springs Ranch, Mt. Vernon, Oregon

Latitude/Longitude 44.44607, -119.08362

Property Owner: Mike Kilpatrick

Caterer: Mundo Catering

Cost: $700

Dates: 7/13/2022 to 7/17/2022

 

President’s Report

This year’s ride took place on Mike Kilpatrick’s 4,000-acre Juniper Springs Ranch just north of Mt. Vernon, OR off of Highway 395. On a historical note, Mike’s dad, Roy Kilpatrick, who was the original owner of the ranch, was one of the early members of STR and, in fact, was the STR president in 1984. In a kind of emotional speech at the Thursday night dinner, Mike told us all about the history of the ranch and about his dad’s involvement with STR. This history and continuity of STR is one of the most interesting facets of being a member. This ride was the 65th annual ride. There aren’t many organizations like this.

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One of the big attractions was the waterfall at the end of a box canyon situated right next to the camp. We had a lot of hot, sunny days, and it was really great to cool off under the waterfall. Another nice feature was the proximity of Magone Lake for swimming drinking beer, and local sightseeing during the afternoon.

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The riding was great due to the open terrain. We camped in junipers but just up the hill it turned into ponderosa pine. There were also great views of the Strawberry Mountains to the south. Paul, the wrangler, told me that he thought it was the most interesting riding he had been with our group.

Mundo Catering provided the food as they had done for the last few years. They did a great job. Sarah Baltazar and her team are just amazing. One change this year was the lunch they provided on Thursday up at Mike’s cabin at the top of the ranch property. It was great to eat hot dogs and drink beer and relax on the barcaloungers in the cool cabin.

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I got up to the camp on Sunday along with my business partner, Jorden Piraino, and Matt Bordonero (STR secretary) and Leo Felice, and the Sicilian mafia and I managed to get the camp set up prior the official start on Wednesday. There is quite a bit of pressure to make sure that everything arrives on time – the dumpster, the porta-potties, the hay, the tanker truck with the water, the caterer, the shower truck, and the Long Branch trailer. Luckily everything worked out fine this year.

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The Long Branch was operating at full throttle during happy hour and after dinner. This year because of the heat we started happy hour at 6:00 instead of at 5:00 and dinner was also one hour later at 8:00 instead of at 7:00. Just like last year at the Steens at Whorehouse Meadows, this year some of bartenders, and in fact one of the officers who shall go unnamed, appeared in drag at the bar. I guess the fact that the Juniper Springs Ranch had a history of being a whorehouse hot springs just was too much for some people.

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Only a few people suffered minor injuries this year. There was no life flight drama like in past years. Thank God.

A big shout out of thanks to Paul Wilson and his team from Chinook Pass Outfitters for providing the rental horses has he had done for many years. This year we really missed his sidekick and all-around great guy, Denny Sveen, who tragically died of Covid this year.

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Another shout out goes to Archie Osborn, a first-year guest and good friend of Mike Kilpatrick, who according to Mike is a “real cowboy and fantastic story teller”, who provided his 4,000-gallon water truck at no cost. Every evening he would drive his giant rig all over the camp delivering water.

The gift this year was a liquor flask with the STR logo on it.

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As always STR honored fallen members on Saturday night. This year for the first time in many years we did have a campfire even though it was just propane. This year we honored Larry Black one of the early members of STR, and many people spoke of him during the ceremony.

This was the first year that the ride was held in July because of the increasing fire danger in August. As a result of the change, there were a number of members who could not attend due to other commitments.

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In conclusion I just want you all to know that all of this is only possible due to tons of work done by the rotating cast of officers each year. I have been a member of STR since 1986, and I can tell you that STR is a very well-run organization with sufficient cash reserves today due to all the work done in recent years by dedicated volunteers who have brought STR into the 21st century. I am confident that STR will continue for many more years. One final note, when you get your electronic dues invoice in January, please pay your dues. They are an important part of the STR budget.

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Happy Trails,

Dick

 

 

Members (Number: 43)

  1. Ken Bentz

  2. John Bishop

  3. Will Bishop

  4. Matt Bordonaro

  5. Jim Bruce

  6. Jimmy Bruce

  7. Carl Burnham, III

  8. Scotty Byrd

  9. Grant Carroll

  10. Dan Christ

  11. James Clement

  12. Bob Cowling

  13. Leo Felice

  14. Jim Goodwin

  15. MacGregor Hall (paid up but couldn’t attend due to Covid)

  16. Ryan Harvey

  17. Mike Herrick

  18. Blake Hering

  19. Brooks Hering

  20. David Horstkotte

  21. Andre Jackson

  22. Jeff Johnson

  23. Peter KasterMike Kehoe

  24. Will Lee

  25. Peter Lynn

  26. John Magaddino

  27. Buddy Meadows

  28. Glenn McGinnis

  29. Gary Nannini

  30. John Niedermeyer

  31. Dick Noble

  32. Ralph Oswold

  33. Brad Preble

  34. Mark Preble

  35. Wally Preble

  36. Bill Sharpe

  37. Peter Sharpe

  38. John Skakel

  39. Scott Warner

  40. Scott Weaver

  41. Jeffrey Wihtol (paid but could not attend)

  42. John Williams

  43. James Yaker (paid but didn’t attend)

 

First Year Guests (Number: 17)

  1. Kim Mahaffrey

  2. Jorden Piraino

  3. Conrad Meyers

  4. Archie Osborn (provided water truck)

  5. Mike Kilpatrick (land owner)

  6. Tyler Williams

  7. Nate Niles

  8. Howard Dietrich

  9. Peter Schoonmaker

  10. Kelly Mingus

  11. Preston Steelman

  12. Rob Torch

  13. Pete P. Lynn, Jr.

  14. Bryce Kerschner

  15. David James

  16. Jon Niedermeyer, Jr.

  17. Alex Nelson

 

Second Year Guests (Number: 4)

  1. Mark Beal

  2. MacGregor Hall, Jr. (paid but could not attend due to Covid)

  3. Caleb Howard

  4. John Hurst

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