Drokes named 2026 grand marshals, honored for decades of Stock Show service

Ron and Sandy Droke were named the 2026 grand marshals of the Eastern Oregon Livestock Show, a choice that puts one of Union’s most familiar Stock Show families at the center of an event built on volunteer labor, youth competition and local tradition.

Ron Droke’s ties to the show reach back to 1962, when he was a freshman at Union High School and began showing pigs through FFA. From that start, his involvement grew into more than six decades of service connected to one of Union County’s signature events. His father, Pete Droke, also served as a grand marshal, extending the family’s place in a recognition that has long honored people whose work keeps the show running.

Ron and Sandy married in 1970, and by the following year they were already helping as chaperones at the Stock Show dances. Ron later served on the board of directors on and off over the years, and in 1987 he became director of racing, where he helped shape the racing program and recruit jockeys. Their children grew up in that same orbit, participating in horse 4-H and pitching in wherever they were needed, from cleaning the grounds to preparing the jockey room.

The selection underscores how the Eastern Oregon Livestock Show operates less like a single-week event and more like a civic institution sustained by families that return year after year. The show says it has been part of the community since 1908 and describes itself as the oldest livestock show in the Northwest. The Eastern Oregon Livestock Show Association was established in 1950, and the organization’s volunteer membership dues remain $5 for a single member and $10 for a family, a reminder that the show still depends on broad community buy-in.

That support matters in practical terms. OSU Extension says the show typically draws 500 to 600 4-H and FFA exhibitors from across Oregon, giving Union County a steady influx of young stock exhibitors, parents and supporters. The event also includes PRCA-sanctioned rodeo competition, livestock judging for 4-H and FFA members and parimutuel horse racing, all of which feed the show’s role as both a youth-development venue and an economic driver for the area.

The 2026 Eastern Oregon Livestock Show is scheduled for June 7-14 in Union, with the parade set for Friday, June 12. Lineup begins at noon and the parade starts at 2 p.m. on Main Street in Union. Past grand marshals include Nate Jacob, Ray and Lynn Randall, Scotty Baker, John Coote, William “Bill” Teeter, Ray McDaniel, Roland Johnson, Imie Bristow and Cecil Puckett, a list that shows the honor usually goes to people whose service has shaped the show for years, not just seasons.