THE MOUNTIES RECEIVE HONORS

The 1st Annual Mokelumne Mounties Day Celebration was held on September 22, 2007 - and there are many more years to come!    

September 24, 2007, the Lodi News Sentinel reported:

Local riding troupe honored
Mokelumne Mounties receive their own 'day'
By Ross Farrow
News-Sentinel Staff Writer
Last updated: Monday, September 24, 2007 6:38 AM PDT

Pictured are Madison Sfragidas, 8, of Acampo; Kyle Ferreira, 16, of Acampo; Brittany Young, 16, of Clements, Amanda Mcleod, 16, of Acampo; Meryll Anderson, 18, of Acampo; Rachelle Reich, 17, of Lodi; Lauren Jenkins, 16, of Lodi, Cassie Coleman, 15, of Valley Springs; Chloe Comporato, 16, of Clements; Drill Master BilliJo Romero of Acampo; Bridgette Trahan, 15, of Acampo; Casey Meade, 12, of Galt and Courtney Reich, 12, of Lodi. (Jennifer M. Howell/News-Sentinel)

The Mokelumne Mounties entered only one major competition in 2006, but BilliJo Romero wanted more once she was elected drillmaster last year.  "Are you ready for a big year? I'm going to enter us into everything," Romero said at the time.  She almost did, too.   As drillmaster for the Clements-based equestrian organization, Romero did a lot more than get her 11 members involved with the intricacies of riding horses and properly displaying the American flag in a rodeo arena. She got them involved in community events, including four parades.

And on Saturday, the Clements-Lockeford Chamber of Commerce honored the organization with Mokelumne Mounties Day at Lockeford Hay Station. The chamber-hosted event featured a barbecue, face painting and live music. The Mounties received proclamations from Lodi Mayor Bob Johnson, San Joaquin County Supervisor Ken Vogel and representatives for Assemblyman Greg Aghazarian, R-Stockton, and Rep. Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton.

"That group is just a group of go-getters," chamber CEO Cynthia Haynes said of the Mounties. "They're a perfect example of what children are capable of doing if parents get involved in their lives. I think it makes outstanding future citizens."

Local officials celebrated Mokelumne Mounties Day with a barbecue, proclamations and face painting at the Lockeford Hay Station.   The Mounties are a nonprofit organization sponsored by the Clements Buckaroos, of which Romero's husband, John, is president. Their showcase event is the annual Clements Stampede.   Once Romero became drillmaster for the equestrian drill team, she moved practices from April to January. When it was raining, practice was in a covered area on her ranch in Acampo. That allowed the Mounties' first contest to be held in April instead of June.  In addition to competing in more events, Romero got the Mounties involved in more private and community events to increase their visibility.  Last year, the Mounties weren't in any parades. This year, they were in four — five if you count Lodi's Parade of Lights in December. They participated in parades in Herald, Elk Grove, Ripon and Reno.  In Herald, they dressed as hillbillies with buck teeth and cornstalks. Romero collected overalls from thrift stores and black cowboy hats from the Dollar Store. The Mounties will wear the same outfits for the theme division competition at the Cow Palace in April.

The idea for having a Mokelumne Mounties Day came when club President Brittany Young discovered that their biggest rival, the Rockettes from Visalia, had a day in their honor in Visalia. Young asked Romero why the Mokelumne Mounties don't have a "day."

"You want a day? I'll get you a day," Romero responded.  Romero fired off letters and e-mails to anyone who would listen. She approached Johnson about getting the Lodi City Council to issue a proclamation. She also contacted the Clements-Lockeford Chamber and more than 300 Mokelumne Mounties alumni and chamber members.  The Mounties get help from several sponsors to defray expenses to enter competitions as part of reciprocal agreements, Romero said.  For example, members will cook hamburgers and hot dogs at the Clements-Lockeford Chamber's Pumpkin Festival on Oct. 30, and they will participate in the chamber's Cowboy Hospice Tree lighting on Dec. 5.  They served as parking attendants at a large wedding in the area. And they performed at developer Fritz Grupe's country fair, a benefit for the San Joaquin A-Plus program, which provides funds to schools with at-risk students.

The Mokelumne Mounties is open to boys and girls — only one boy participated this year — between 8 and 18 years of age from Lodi, Acampo, Clements and Galt. All but four of the Mounties attend Lodi High School.

Mokelumne Mounties events for 2007
• Clements Stampede
• Lodi Parade of Lights
• Color guard competition at San Francisco Cow Palace
• National drill team competition at Cow Palace
• Frog Jump Jubilee in Angels Camp
• Stanislaus County Sheriff's Posse Rodeo
• Western States Drill Team competition in Reno
• California State Fair (performed drill for entertainment)
• Western States Drill Team competition in Santa Rosa

Members learn teamwork and respect while riding and training their own horses to perform drills. Through their 26-year history, the Mounties have won 10 championship titles, including the Western States Equestrian Drill Team Association title and the California State Horsemen's Association championship.  The Mounties were also honored by being selected to participate in the Tournament of Roses Parade in 1992 and Equidance 2000 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada in 2000.