Preserving our Western heritage one scholarship at a time
May 3rd - 4th 2024
PENDLETON CATTLE BARONS SCHOLARSHIPS
It’s about scholarships!
Pendleton Cattle Barons Weekend was established as a non-profit in 2008 to showcase western heritage, with the purpose of providing scholarships for the next generation to keep the tradition alive.
The Pendleton Cattle Barons Scholarship Program was designed to benefit students pursuing agricultural careers. Our past scholarship recipients have achieved degrees that led to careers such as agricultural business owners, large animal veterinarians and even agricultural lawyers among others.
100% of the proceeds of the Pendleton Cattle Barons Weekend create scholarships for regional students attending college and majoring in agriculture. Within the last few years, Pendleton Cattle Barons weekend event was able to raise in excess of $25,000.00 for our scholarship program! The Pendleton Cattle Barons weekend also infuses more than 1.2 million into our local economy with over 3000 in attendance each year. By attending the event you are helping to support these students and the future of the agriculture industry.
Preserving our western heritage one scholarship at a time
Applications Open. Deadline April 5th, 2024
2023 Scholarship Recipients
Protect the Harvest
RyLee Demianew
Randy Severe Memorial Scholarship
Aaron Burnell
Pendleton Cattle Barons Scholarship
Cidney Estes
Jaiden Mahoney
RyLee Demianew (both PCB and PTH)
Madison Orem
Kinley McAnally
More on 2023 Recipients
Aaron Burnell
Aaron Burnell is a 24-year-old leather craftsman from La Grande, Oregon. He graduated from Union High School in 2016 and became a Wildland Firefighter for two years. Later, he moved to central Oregon to begin crushing rock on a mobile crusher, which led him to accept a job at American Rock Products in Pendleton, Oregon, where he worked for a year and a half. As Aaron worked during the day, he spent his nights practicing tooling leather and studying the craft. As Aaron's skills developed, he was offered a position at Hamley and Co. in their leather shop, where he has been rebuilding their leather shop. "Cattle Barrons is always fun; besides the leather tooling contest, my favorite of Cattle Barrons weekend is the ranch rodeo. I feel like no matter the situation, you learn and laugh with each other, even though it’s a competition. A lot of the contestants help each other out during the rest of the year, there’s a lot of great sportsmanship in the ranch rodeo."
Cidney Estes
Cidney Estes is a graduating senior from Echo High School and will be attending Tarleton State University in the fall, where she will major in Agribusiness with an emphasis on Ag Economics. She will minor in accounting to supplement her degree in terms of finance. She will also be college rodeoing for the Tarleton rodeo team. After college, she plans to return to Eastern Oregon, where she will seek a job in the agricultural community, either as a land appraiser or loan officer. Her favorite part about the Pendleton Cattle Barons is the horse sale and team branding event. She is so thankful for Pendleton Cattle Barons and how this event has developed the next generation of agricultural leaders through their generous support to the young adults involved in their agricultural communities.
Jaiden Mahoney
Growing up on an Angus cow-calf and Quarter horse operation in rural Eastern Oregon, Jaiden Mahoney has been surrounded by animals and the agricultural industry from an early age. Throughout her life, she has competed at all levels within the rodeo world, most recently representing Washington State University at regional intercollegiate rodeos. Today, she remains involved with both the ranching and rodeo industries, returning home to the ranch to continue assisting with ranch responsibilities as well as training working ranch/rodeo horses and stock dogs. "The people behind the agriculture and western industries share a unique set of core values, steeped in the way we fearlessly embrace a hard day’s work and the challenges it will undoubtedly bring." She was lucky enough to be raised by a community of ranchers, farmers, and agriculturists that honor these values and helped to shape them within me. I care deeply for this industry and strive to shape my career in a way that allows me to continue working with the people of the Western world daily. My agricultural and Western background has shaped the way she values the veterinary industry, leading her to pursue a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine at Washington State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine with an emphasis on equine performance medicine and reproduction.
Recently, Jaiden has been pursuing additional personal and career network development through Of the West’s Next Era of Ag program. She serves as the President of the Integrative Veterinary Medicine Club and is an active member of WSU’s Student Chapter of the American Association of Equine Practitioners. She is pursuing connections with equine practitioners throughout the western states in order to expand her network of resources as she progresses through the DVM program, in an effort to secure an internship and eventually a position as a practitioner specializing in equine veterinary medicine.
"My favorite moments from the Pendleton Cattle Barons Weekend always come from watching the consigners showcase their horses and stock dogs. It is so evident the vast amounts of hard work they have put in to have these animals working at their finest and the commitment to providing the community with exceptional assets to any ranching operation."
RyLee Demianew
RyLee Demianew is from Pendleton, Oregon, and will be attending Oregon State University in the fall to major in Agriculture Education. Teaching the next generation of agriculturists is something RyLee is very passionate about. Throughout high school, she has been an active member of the local FFA chapter, National Honor Society, and Associated Student Body. Agriculture is her true passion, and she strongly believes it is important for students to have a better understanding of the agriculture industry and understand how they have a voice to advocate for Oregon agriculture. "My favorite part of Pendleton Cattle Barons is its community aspect. The agriculture community is such a strong group of individuals who are advocating for ranchers and farmers. After college, I plan on coming back to Pendleton to continue to give back to the community that made me who I am."
Madison Orem
Madison Orem is a senior at Ione High School and will be attending the University of Idaho to pursue a degree in Animal Science and Agriculture Business as she works towards a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine. In high school, she was involved in Volleyball, Softball, FFA, 4H, Ione Associated Student Body, and the National Honor Society. Madison grew up on a first-generation dryland wheat and cattle ranch, where she grew a love for agriculture. Her life has revolved around agriculture since the day she was born. Some of her earliest memories consist of branding cows, burning out flood ditches, and riding in the combine during dryland wheat harvest. Her parents made sure she and her siblings knew how to work hard and understood that living this lifestyle required grit, passion, and a good work ethic. They were taught responsibility through driving equipment, compassion while taking care of sick calves, and work ethic as they worked weekends and holidays. As a large animal veterinarian, she not only wants to help farmers and ranchers but also advocates for the agriculture industry. "My favorite part of Cattle Barons Weekend is that Farmers and Ranchers come together from all over the area to watch the Ranch Rodeo, Horse and Dog Sale, and Visit the Convention Center. Cattle Barons Weekend is a fun way to bring everyone together and make fun memories while also supporting the future of agriculture."
Kinley McAnally
Kinley McAnally is from the great town of Pendleton, Oregon. Kinley is currently a freshman at Eastern Oregon University studying Agriculture Entrepreneurship. After she obtains her degree, Kinley plans on pursuing a career in the agriculture industry. Her goal is to make a difference in the agriculture community. Pendleton Cattle Barons is one of Kinley's favorite events all year. Her favorite part of Cattle Barons weekend is helping setting-up, sorting cattle, timing for the bronc riding, and watching the previews of the horses for sale.
Recent Scholarship recipients from previous years
Audrey Wood, Emily Gulch, Macy Rosselle, Mattew Orem, Taylor Walgamott, Morgen Orem, Sydney Dodge, Cassie Castle, Sydney Bracher, Cierra Grant, Kinley MacAnally