Welcome Rodeo Fans,
Proudly representing your 76th Elgin Stampede is Lydia Hasbell, I live here in Elgin, Oregon with my parents Chad and Amanda Burgess and my older brother Gabe and younger siblings Bailey, Coleman, and Graylen. I was born and raised here in Union County. This is and will forever be my home. Since I could remember I have worked and helped my grandparents with their farm, David and Julie Sanders, where I learned all my farming/ranching skills that I value today. They taught me work ethic in how to work cattle, fix fencing, training horses, and much more. I am currently 17 years old and going into my senior year here at Elgin High School, which I have attended since the 8th grade.
Throughout my school years I have been highly active in 4-H, FFA, volleyball, basketball, and track. I was first in 4-H for five years when I started showing market hogs, market goats, and breeding does. My grandparents were swine/goat owners and got me interested in showing swine as well as goats. I learned the value of breeding and raising. In 2019 I started my own herd of dairy goats and learned the values and skills of dairy goat production. I entered FFA with my dairy herd and my advisor helped me succeed in putting them on AET as my very first SAE accomplishment. From there I became very interested in FFA and started to not only do SAE’s but CDE’s as well. CDE’s are career development events, I have pursued parliamentary procedure, ag sales, dairy and meats evaluation, and many more events. Over the past four years I have shown market hogs and goats at EOLS and UCF where I have earned many awards.
From elementary school to high school I have participated in volleyball and basketball for 7 years. Volleyball and basketball have taught me the value of hard work, teamwork, and being a part of a team that grows your character in many ways. I have also learned that being a part of leadership roles which include FFA officers from freshman year to being class president my Junior year have helped me succeed in my public speaking and growing my character in many ways. These roles have taught me how to help others in not giving up and succeeding their goals as I did mine.
Over the years I have grown up in a rodeo family that has been a part of the Elgin Stampede and participated in many other rodeos around the state. I grew up going to the full week of the Elgin Stampede and seeing all the different rodeo courts and from then I've always wanted to be where I am today. While also attending the Elgin Stampede I have participated in family night ever since I was 4 years old. I started with mutton busting and then moved to pole bending and barrel racing. I have pole bended and barrel raced ever since and expanded my rodeos to all over Oregon. In the past few years I have had trouble with my rodeo horse and had to find a new horse, I looked for a challenge and I acquired it.
In 2021 I found my dream horse Badger, he is a 11 year old gray AQHA with a stubborn but very loving personality. Aside from not knowing much, Badger has grown in many ways. When I first got him all he knew was working cattle and I shifted his mind to all aspects of western. I was able to do a range of things that vary from ground work to any rodeo event. Badger loves when we are able to get into an arena and work, which is his favorite activity as well as mine. We are the perfect match for what is about to come for the both of us. I’m so grateful to have a horse like him to share this experience with.
I would like to thank my family for supporting me and helping me become the young lady I am today that is proudly representing the 76th Elgin Stampede! I am looking forward to seeing all of you at the 2023 76th Elgin Stampede!