The Tulelake Butte Valley
Fair has proudly announced Chuck and Shirl Woodson as the 2024 Fair Parade
Grand Marshals. Chuck, Shirl, and their ranch have had a stored life.
The Woodson’s are the
proud owner-operators of Willow Creek Ranch, located at the north end of Mt.
Dome east of Dorris, CA. The ranch comprises multiple homesteads settled in the
1800s and early 1900s.
This homestead grouping
includes the Clinton, Daniel, and Benjamin Van Brimmer homesteads, collectively
known as the Van Brimmer Ranch.
The Van Brimmers and
their ranch played a prominent role in the Modoc War. The Van Brimmer milk
house straddling Willow Creek was converted into a makeshift fort during the
war. Today, it can be visited at the Klamath County Museum.
At Willow Creek, the Woodson’s
run their cow/calf operation and take in yearlings on the meadows and
commercial cows outside the country.
Willow Creek Ranch and
Chuck were featured in the late David Stoecklein’s books - California Cowboys,
Spirit of the West, and Cattle. Stoecklein featured both Chuck and Shirl in
California Cowboys and Shirl in his book Cowgirls.
Photographs of the ranch
and Chuck and Shirl have been featured on Stoecklein Publication calendars and
day planners. David hired Shirl to write the text in several of the books he
published on ranch life.
Chuck was raised 8 miles
from the Mexican border and has cowboyed his entire life. He has worked on
ranches throughout California. From the southern tip near Mexico to the northern
edge along the Oregon border. From the Sierra to the coast and even into Nevada
and Arizona.
The well-traveled cowboy
is known for his ability to start colts and rehabilitate troubled horses. His
horse clients can be found throughout California, Oregon, and across the globe
in Germany. Although a diagnosis of cancer in 2011 put an end to riding for his
long list of clients, he is still riding his own horses and working cattle at
Willow Creek. He still finds time to squeeze in riding a green horse or a horse
that may have issues with a human.
Additionally, Chuck is a
craftsman who restores vintage silver bits and spurs. He has made award-winning
creations. Modest by nature, he generally keeps those accolades to himself. However,
keeping up with the work on the ranch doesn’t give him as much time as he’d
like to work in his silver shop.
Chuck is also considered
an authority on early California bit and spur makers. He is adept at
identifying engraving styles and how a particular piece will function in
relation to a specific horse’s confirmation.
An enthusiast of early Californian
history, Chuck will drop everything to visit about vaqueros and the early
cattle industry of the Golden State. He has even turned his passion for the
traditions of early California horsemen into a business, Bear State Vaquero - offering
quality California-style tack to the horseman.
Shirl is the daughter of
John and Aline Terry of Tulelake.
John was a 1949
homesteader and previously a Grand Marshall of the Tulelake Butte Valley Fair
Parade. Aline just celebrated her 100th birthday and still owns the homestead
in the Panhandle. The Tulelake-Butte Valley Fair has played an important role
in her family. Shirl and her siblings Ona and John Pat all showed and marketed
steers in 4-H and FFA. Ona ran for fair court.
Shirl’s involvement with
the fair began early—she rode with her dad on his horse in the fair parade when
she was about 4 years old. John was the leader of the Homestead Saddle Club.
Lucille Chambers (wife of homesteader Woody Chambers) even had a little shirt
made for Shirl with the Homestead Saddle Club embroidered on the back.
Until moving out of the
area, she competed regularly in the horse events at the fair. Returning to the
Basin, she served a term on the fair board.
Shirl began working for
Cotton Rosser’s Flying U Rodeo in 1982 and still helps whenever needed.
Retirement from Flying U isn’t in the foreseeable future. During her time at
Flying U, she had the honorary selection to carry flags on horseback in the
Opening Ceremonies and Sponsor Ceremonies at the National Finals Rodeo in Las
Vegas - for the first ten years the NFR was in Nevada.
Timing rodeos, office
work, working the trade show booths, advanced public relations work, and
appearing on
Ripley’s Believe It or Not television program were just a
portion of her duties.
Shirl even drove monster
trucks crushing cars one year when the truck show alternated with rodeo
performances.
Shirl also worked a
decade in the office of
Ropers Sports News, a premier publication going
to 48 states and three counties, where she learned graphic design.
Bob Feist was gracious
enough to allow her to continue working at Flying U while working for him.
Shirl has written several
books and has been featured in many publications, including Persimmon Hill, the
publication of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma
City. For some of the books, Shirl has done graphic design and photo
restoration.
She is currently working
on the history of the valley that contains the D Ranch, the JF Ranch, and the
Van Brimmer Ranches.
Shirl just attended her 50-year
class reunion from Tulelake High School, reuniting with classmates, many of
whom she attended 1st through 12th grade with.
Shirl regretfully won’t be on horseback
for this year’s parade. She is currently healing from serious injuries
sustained in an accident on the ranch last December. The healing process is
underway. She is riding again on the ranch for short periods to help with the
cattle and hopes to return to normal in another year.
The Woodson’s have a storied past
with historic longtime local roots and is an easy choice as this year’s Grand
Marshal.