Get your boots ready, a favorite community tradition rides back into 2018. After the San Benito County Chamber of Commerce stepped down in 2016, the San Benito County Saddle Horse Association has picked up the parade where it left off and is bringing a fresh approach to the popular downtown Hollister event.
“We hope this change will reintroduce to the community the historic vaquero traditions and continuation of them through the saddle horse show; a fun, wholesome family activity,” said Rebecca Wolf, San Benito County Saddle Horse Show Board Director. Wolf has shown a longtime commitment to county history through her personal efforts to improve the San Benito County Horse Show and Rodeo Museum at Bolado Park, just outside of Tres Pinos.
The parade will be held late morning on Saturday, June 16, kicking off the 85th Anniversary of the San Benito County Saddle Horse Show and Rodeo. The horse show board is scheduling horse and livestock entries with wagons, floats, horsemen and horsewomen that celebrate the county’s continued connection to its unique vaquero, pastoral and agricultural history. Jessica French Brem is the 2018 Chair of the Parade Committee.
“Many people in San Benito County are eager for this year’s parade to return. For more than 80 years, it’s been an event to look forward to,” Wolf said. The parade will showcase history and pause to appreciate the fact that “we have so many of these qualities and opportunities still in our county.”
Miss San Benito Rodeo 2017, Corrisa King stated, “I’m super excited to have the Saddle Horse Show Parade back downtown because it helps let our small town get ready for our Saddle Horse Show and Rodeo. It reminds everyone that the rodeo is coming up. I cannot wait to see everyone at the parade this year!”
The parade committee is also focused on welcoming new community members and introducing them to this aspect of the community’s character. “With a high commute population, we want to get the community more aware of these events and outside enjoying our downtown parade. It is a perfect way to remind families of our three-day San Benito Saddle Horse Show and Rodeo the following weekend,” Wolf mentioned.
A committee is meeting on sponsorships, parade guests and addition downtown attractions that day. To learn more about the Saddle Horse Show Downtown Parade, or get involved, contact Mary Hubbell maryh@bkspcpa.com or Kerry Tobias kerryt@bkpcpa.com.
NOTE: Correction made on the name of the horseman in the foreground of the photo. Special thank you to Jeannine Porteur DiVincenzo for giving us the correct info and a little history too!
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