The 39th Annual Rowell Ranch Rodeo Parade
The 39th Annual Rowell Ranch Rodeo Parade sponsored by the Rotary Club of Castro Valley, celebrating Rowell Ranch Rodeo’s 100th anniversary, was held on Saturday, May 14, 2022.
The theme for this year's parade is “Back In The Saddle Again!" celebrating our return after two non-parade years due to the Covid pandemic.
There were close to 70 entries in this year's parade, including equestrian entries, floats, musical entries, including our hometown Castro Valley High School Trojans Marching Band, the Hayward High School Pride Marching Band, the Alameda County Deputy Sheriffs Activities League Rhythm Cadets Drumline and, for the first time, we welcome the Wells Middle School Marching Band and Color Guard from over the hill in Dublin, and, also for the first time, all the way from San Francisco, the Prince Charles Pipe Band!
The Awards presented were from Engravit of Castro Valley and some non-equestrian awards were presented in front of the stage by Incoming President Lytrel Carter of the Rotary Club of Castro Valley.
Pictures were taken by members of the Castro Valley Photo Club (Mary Cerro Faria, Winnie Wright, Rick Taylor and Steve Johnson), and Mike Kady of Redwood Christian Schools. Parade pictures captured along the parade route will get them posted on www.castrovalleyrotary.org late next week.
The Parade Committee met for months and is led by Incoming President of CV Rotary 2022 Parade Chair Lytrel Carter, and other Castro Valley Rotarians and volunteers: Dwight Perry, Cliff Sherwood, Randy Vanderbilt, Christian Carr, Jim Negri, Kern Lewis, Ceta Dochterman, Dawn Ortiz, Dan Willits, Ray Wallace, Robert Hoffman, Craig Semmelmeyer, John Aufdermauer, Carol Bigelow, Gary Howard, Mel Speed, and, of course, Linda Parker, who is in charge of the line up on Norbridge Avenue and ensures all units are in place and ready to go assisted by Anita Finefrock and her daughter, Holly Rasay, Elliot and Joyce Siler, and a number of other very devoted volunteers, Retired Deputy Sheriff Darby Falkenstine, who has coordinated the safety of our parade using law enforcement (Sheriff’s Dept, CHP and East Bay Parks Police), the young marines, other volunteers and Sheriff Reserve officers!
Other members of the Castro Valley Rotary Club serve in other key positions throughout the parade route as well as members of the Redwood Christian High School Student Body. Special thanks to Dr. Al Hearne, RCS Supt, who will be keeping me on track on stage and Mark Poniatowski and John Aufdermauer, who will be holding back the entries until our judges are ready for them!
Since the parade began, all equestrian judging has been done by the California State Horseman's Association. The Equestrian judge was Gail Barnett. Non-equestrian judging was this year under the direction of the Elizabeth Crocker and other members of the Castro Valley community!
The parade has always been a community event with participation by local youth athletic leagues; youth organizations like the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, youth leagues, service clubs, politicians; churches and schools - public, private, parochial and Christian - as well as bands from various organizations; and all kinds of horses!
Special thanks to the sponsors of this year’s parade:
Honorary Marshals (5) ($1000): Classy Canine’s Wiggle Rumps - Pet Grooming SPAW; Nixxit - Junk Removal; Redwood Christian Schools; Sutter Health - Eden Health Center; and Supervisor Nate Miley
Wrangler Club (11) ($500): Adams Autoworx, Inc; Alan D West – Attorney At Law; Castro Valley Hayward Storage; Comfort Inn; Eden Township Healthcare District; El Rancho Supermercado, LLC; Fremont Bank; Janella Anguiano – Century 21 Real Estate; Kevin Hinkley Auto Tech; and Law Office of Eduardo Robles
Bronco Club (13) ($200 to $499): Advance Title Research; April Chan; Beck Roofing; BSR Realty; Craig Ragg Real Estate Broker; Greenwood and Moore, Inc.; Law Offices of Phillips and Phillips; Perry’s Creative Promotions; Pete’s Hardware; Poniatowski Leding Parikh Law Corp; Sherwood & Company; Victor Kvikstad; and Walsh Property Management.
Stetson Club (5) ($100): Joe Farias; Jess C. Spencer Mortuaries & Crematory; R & J Quick Clean Center; and The Tucker Group.
As Castro Valley is a community made up of people who care about each other, all were encouraged to continue to shop the merchants downtown.
Local service clubs and other organizations participated in the parade as a way to show their community support and to bring joy to hundreds if not thousands of spectators who line the parade route, including the Boy Scout Troops 708 and 2708 for cleaning up after the Equestrian entries along the parade route and at the equestrian staging area, the BART parking lot.
Mel Speed from The Music Company provided music and sound.
The next event hosted by the Rotary Club of Castro Valley is the Downtown Car Show on June 8th.