Betty Lou is the daughter of Ern and Frances Adams, charter members of the Elgin Stampede and its ultimate honor club, The Legends. Since her parents were very active, it was only natural that she would be.
Her earliest memories include Stampede workdays over the weekends, with breakfast prepared for the workers on an old cookstove.
At age five, one of her primary jobs was picking up rocks on the race track, “Where I picked rocks, and picked rocks, and picked rocks….”
At age 14, she started riding in the drill team and competing in various events.
One of her fondest memories is going into the Minam River Country on horseback after the rodeo was over for the year. Most members went, and all gathered at the Anderson Ranch. As Betty Lou began to tell her stories, we decided what happens at the Anderson Ranch, should stay at the Anderson Ranch.
Besides her parents, Ern and Frances, there is a long line of family involvement. Farrell, her older sister, was on the court in 1955.Betty Lou was on the court in 1962. Her husband Marvin was Stampede President in 1985 (and most of us know the role of the First Lady in these volunteer events!). She chaired or was deeply involved in Stampeder events for many years, including the annual crab feed, and beer garden, as well as organizing the Grand Parade for years, with the help of Cheryl Coe. In 1990, her mother, Frances, was the Grand Marshall, and that same year, her daughter, Sheri Lou, was the Stampede Queen. In 2019, her granddaughter, Tymra Anderson, was a Stampede princess.
Betty Lou has wonderful memories of her times with the Elgin Stampeders. She said, “It was a simpler time. There were always dances or riding events, and work days--where people came to work, and have a great time just being together.”
The Stampeders are honored to recognize Betty Lou as the 2022 Stampede Grand Marshal!