By Mardi Ford

Staff Writer

ELGIN "Remember the Griswolds?" Steve Russell’s grin has a wicked hint of where this is going. "When I flip that switch berrroooooomm by golly, Elgin, it’s gonna get dim."

He laughs out loud and everybody joins in the good-natured joke.

Standing around the kitchen in socks, sipping steaming cups of coffee, an excited Steve and Carey Russell and their good friends Doyle and Debbi Tredemann are drying out and looking ahead.

For the past few weeks, they have worked through the mud and rain to get ready for the Cowboy Gathering at Lost Horse Ranch. Carey is worried they aren’t moving fast enough, but Steve is just happy the new electrical boxes are finally in. The next step is rigging lights to the big arena.

With all the fevered anticipation of Clark Griswold in "National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation," Steve is waiting for the night he can throw a switch and watch their big arena come alive with light and sound.

"There’s a lot depends on having juice," he admits.

Steve seems to be about as laid back as a cowboy can be considering what still needs to be done before the event but says he builds all night long in his sleep.

Carey, on the other hand, says, "I sleep!" Her eyes reveal some apprehensiveness that tinges her excitement. She’s the one who keeps comparing the calendar to the to-do list.

"Yeah," she admits, "I’m the worrier, but there’s still a bunch to do, too."

The Russell’s Cowboy Gathering has been referred to by some around town as the "Western Woodstock." If it were just about music, that might be true.

Others say it could be the next best version of Elko, Nevada’s annual Cowboy Poetry Gathering. And if it were just about cowboy poetry, that might be true.

But what’s really goin’ on at the Lost Horse Ranch in a few weeks is probably the biggest private party Elgin’s ever seen.

Steve and Carey Russell are hosting the party this year, and they’ve patterned it after their wedding reception five years ago.

"We want to promote a lifestyle we love," Steve Russell says. "We’ve lucked out with this place, but we’ve worked our butts off, too. It’s all good and we want to share it."

The event will also give the couple an opportunity to showcase their ranch and their horses especially buckskin studs Bronsins Legend and their newest addition, World Champion Kid’s Classic Heart, better known as "Rowdy," who is moving over from Cove this summer.

"I guess I’ll need to build two stud pavilions, now," Steve says but not ’til after the party.

Steve and Carey say they started talking about a cowboy gathering from the beginning of their married life. When they finally settled into Elgin last year and the Lost Horse Ranch, they knew it was the right place and the right time.

"We just put a date on it," Steve shrugs, "and started advertising."

"That’s right," Carey nods. "No backin’ out."

Although the Cowboy Gathering is soon June 25-27 the Russells say the number of cowboys and cowgirls expected at this shindig is still an unknown.

Flyers have been up all over the county for months and posted on the ranch’s Web site, www.losthorseranch.net , with an RSVP date of June 18.

"The response has been phenomenal," Steve grins, shaking his head in amazement. "We’ve got people coming from all over Montana, California, Washington, Idaho and Oregon."

The Russells have gone to businesses in Elgin and advised them to expect out-of-towners who might be stocking up on food, ice and beverages.

Although the Elgin FFA will be serving barbecue on Saturday night for $6 a plate and the Indian Valley 4-H club will run a concession stand with hotdogs, nachos and drinks, the Cowboy Gathering has been advertised as a "bring your own food and beverage" event.

With camping set up in the lower meadow, the Russells have invited people to bring everything from motor homes to bedrolls. Horses, of course, are welcome, but not required. Nothing is required but having fun.

Throughout the three-day event, there are plenty of activities planned "from the horse" including some good-natured ranch-roping competition, cow sorting, a working cow dog demonstration by Elgin’s Chris Daggett and trail rides.

Friday is for checking in and getting settled and acquainted. Friday night is Campfire Night complete with cowboy poetry and tall tales.

Saturday morning, Blue Mountain Mounted Orienteering will hold a clinic on what Steve and Carey are referring to as a "Cowboy Scavenger Hunt."

"It’s cool," Steve says, getting excited just talking about it. "You have a map and compass and clues. Every point along the route has to be able to be seen from a horse." He adds, "I’ve even seen ’em wrap the clues in plastic and put ’em in the middle of a stream bed."

After the clinic, those who get a hankerin’ to join in an orienteering-

sanctioned ride Sunday morning can sign up.

Saturday afternoon there’s a shooting demonstration by Cowboy Mounted Shooters Rick Hagen, La Grande; Dale Merten, St. Paul; Dave Klugh, Yamhill; and Bob Hodson, Vancouver, Wash. The men will also put on a mini-clinic highlighting the details of mounted shooting competitions, gun handling, horse training and safety and let some new shooters give it a try.

Steve says the mounted shooting sport is just another way to have "fun on a horse" and is excited to have a group of this caliber at the Cowboy Gathering.

The four shooters hold multiple Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association and Single Action Shooting Society local, state, regional, all-American and World Champion titles. In addition, three qualified for the 2001 Cowboy Mounted Shooting competition held at the 2001 Winter Olympics.

But for those who love the western lifestyle, but aim to enjoy it on two feet, there is a western dance and concert Saturday night to the classic cowboy tunes of Wylie and the Wild West.

In reviews, Wylie has been called "the best singing cowboy alive" and "the real deal." He and his band have appeared at the Grand Ole Opry more than 45 times, performed at Lincoln Center and the Kennedy Center, and sung with the likes of Merle Haggard and Riders in the Sky. He and his wife run a working cattle ranch in eastern Washington, which Wylie says "grounds him and is the backbone of his art."

"Wylie is a great guy," Steve smiles at Carey. "He and his band played for our wedding."

Steve and Carey have gone all out for this Cowboy Gathering. They’ve brought in groups and events any one of which would be a big deal by itself for a much bigger venue. It’s rather phenomenal they have pulled this all together for a little town in Northeast Oregon. But no one is more amazed than Carey and Steve.

Steve says the people friends, family and "basically the entire group of Stampeders" who’ve offered to help them do this provide another example of what the event is all about: the neighborly western way of life.

"We have learned so much," Carey says. "If we do this next year, we’ll be more prepared."

Will they do this again next year?

"Well," Steve turns serious for a millisecond. "It’d be kind of neat if it turned into an annual thing," his big grin pops back in place, "wouldn’t it?"