| Don Heckman is Border Days Grand Marshal By Lorie Palmer Idaho County Free Press “This is an incredible honor, and I really appreciate it,” said Don Heckman. The White Bird-area rancher is the Border Days grand marshal for 2020. Heckman was born in Cottonwood and raised on Joseph Plains on the family ranch. He attended grade school here, then his family purchased a ranch outside of  White
Bird when it was time for him to start high school. His parents, his
younger brother and he all moved to the White Bird ranch.“On Joseph, I would ride or walk to school, feeding cattle on the way in, and feeding on the way back, too,” he recalled. “Going to school in Grangeville was certainly different. We hardly ever went to town while growing up, so this was the city. The first year was an experience, including riding the bus on the old spiral White Bird highway. But people were real friendly.” Don met his wife, Pam, in New Meadows, when his family rented pasture from her family. They married in 1960, and, on the White Bird ranch, raised sons Dion and Dean. “Pam has always been a hard worker and she cooked, raised a garden, helped ship cattle, took care of all the paperwork and books, and helped with everything else going on,” he said. Throughout the years, many things changed on the ranch, he said, one being automation. “Automation – the machinery and equipment – really changed our lives, made us more efficient,” he said. He recalled when, in 1973, he, Pam and a young Dion, drove to Iowa to pick up and bring back the first round baler to come to the area. “That was something,” he smiled, shaking his head. The ability to quickly produce large bales and then feed in bigger quantities improved their operations, he said, adding that machine couldn’t compare to the computerized versions nowadays. Another area that changed throughout the years, he added, is the ability to find ranch hands. “We’ve had wonderful employees during the years,” he stated. “But it gets more and more difficult to find people who want to do this type of work. It takes a toll on you, for sure. It’s tough.” Heckman said moving cattle in days gone by was mostly by trailing or driving the cattle by horseback off the beaten path, on rough terrain and backcountry. Moving cattle could take a week or more. As roads improved and trucks became more available, the transporting of cattle to summer pasture also became more efficient. “There’s still some of it, such as getting them on the forest allotment, that needs to be accomplished on horseback – that’s the only way,” he said. “And there’s something to be said about cattle that walk to their pasture and know the lay of the land – they also know their way home most of the time.” Although Heckman appreciates ATVs, and has enjoyed many rides, he also knows nothing beats the view from atop a horse. “I like the ATVs for carrying food and salt and checking fence, but there’s nothing like horseback – and there are just some places that you can only go by horse,” he emphasized. On July 3, Heckman will turn 79, and, although he is still very involved with the family ranch, he also knows it is in good hands. “I’m so thankful for my family and what they do,” he said. Dion works with the cattle and hay crops, while Dean takes care of the shop and rolling stock. Dion, and his wife, Susie, and Dean, and his wife, Brenda, all live on the ranch, along with granddaughter, Marie, and her partner, Wayne, and their daughter, Heckman’s great-granddaughter, 2-year-old Tinsley. He gave praise to Susie, Brenda and Marie for their willingness to drop everything and help on the ranch whenever needed, even when they are balancing outside jobs and responsibilities. “God has been good to me, blessing me with a great family, very good employees, neighbors, friends, business people and community,” Heckman said. “I’ve also had wonderful horses and dogs, and, well, I’ve just had a good run.” Though Heckman expresses humility over any success and does not want any conversation to turn to bragging on any level, one of the areas he is proud of is of the Heckman natural beef, and they continue to raise and sell this beef that is hormone and antibiotic-free. “We have hats that say, ‘Hormone free since ’33,’” he chuckled. It was in 1933 when the Heckman family first arrived in Idaho County via the lower Salmon near the Waha-Lewiston area. * Heckman admits his family is not a rodeoing family, but he does go back a few decades with Border Days. “My first memory of Border Days is as a young child, riding down from Joseph Plains in our family Jeep,” he said. Sometimes they would get to stay over in town for the night, while other times they would have to return home to feed cattle and do chores. “I recall being so fascinated with the Nez Perce,” he said, explaining the American Indians would ride in the parades in full regalia. “They would camp out along the creek by the arena. They were good horsemen.” He remembers Border Days usually fell during haying season. “Sometimes we would have to work to get the haying finished, but the crew always got the Fourth off,” he said. In later years, he has fond memories of bringing his own family to the rodeo and Border Days events. “It’s just always been a part of our lives,” he said. That’s why, he added, it’s such an honor to be chosen as grand marshal. “It really means something to be a part of this, and I truly thank everyone involved,” he smiled. Border Days Queen Kaylee Page By Lorie Palmer Idaho County Free Press “This definitely has been a crazy year, but we have had a lot of memories so far. One of my favorites was the mini bull bash; even though it was raining I had so much fun watching all the kids and getting to spend time with the committee,” said 17-year-old Kaylee Page. The daughter of Yogi and Phyllis Page is the 2020 Border Days Queen. She has been raised in Grangeville and Kooskia and will be a senior at Clearwater Valley High School in Kooskia this fall. She has one brother, Jackson, 16. 2020 marks the fifth consecutive year Page has served as royalty. In 2015-16, she served as Cottonwood Riding Club Queen, alongside current Border Days Princess Josie Remacle. In 2016-17, she was Triple Bar Drill Team Queen, and 2018-2020, she served two years as White Bird Rodeo Queen. Page said she has been attending Border Days activities all her life, but did not participate in the rodeo until she was 11. “My favorite part about Border Days is our grand entry at the rodeo,” Page said. “I think it looks so cool introducing everyone, then having the cannons go off.” Page said she would not be the same person right now if it weren't for her years of royalty. “The experiences have helped me step out of my shell and try things I would never try before,” she explained. “As royalty you are the ‘pretty face’ of your rodeo and everyone knows who you are. The whole point is to always be setting a good example for people around you, and I think I have accomplished just that. I thoroughly enjoy getting to travel around and meet all sorts of people, and learn more and more about the sport of rodeo.” “I think that every girl should try royalty at some point in her life, as it is truly a life-changing experience,” Page added. “What's better than getting to dress up yourself and your horse to meet new people and teach them about your favorite sport? Rodeo royalty isn't just a pageant, it's a life lesson about being a positive influence in the lives of many people.” In the past years in high school, Page has participated in volleyball, wrestling and track. Due to an ACL injury, she will only wrestle in the coming year. She said she spends most of her time riding her two horses, working and hunting with her dad. Following graduation, Page plans to attend Lewis-Clark State College and obtain a teaching degree to become a PE teacher/women's wrestling coach. “Once I accomplish that, I plan to travel all over and find the place I will call home.” She said. Page voiced that she and Josie would like to give “a huge thank you to all of the people who donated to the auction and all the people who bought items and tickets to attend,” to sponsor Border Days royalty, she said. “I would also like to thank the amazing committee for all their support this last year. And another thank you to my parents for their continuous support throughout these past six years, especially.”  2020 Border Days Queen Kaylee Page waves to the audience at the royalty tryouts in 2019. Free Press Photo.
Border Days Princess Josie Remacle
By Lorie Palmer Idaho County Free Press “My favorite part of Border Days is definitely the rodeo,” smiled Josie Remacle. Sixteen-year old Josie Remacle is the 2020 Border Days Princess. She is the daughter of Glenn and Stacy Remacle of Cottonwood and will be a junior at Prairie Junior-Senior High School this fall. She has two older siblings, Samantha and Lane, and a younger sibling, Callie. Her grandma Dickey lives in Grangeville and her grandpa and grandma Remacle reside in Cottonwood. Remacle said she likes the rodeo events and the excitement of the crowd and the community. “I grew up loving Border Days,” she said. “It’s such a happy environment. I love the crowd it attracts.” Remacle said she loved attending parades each year and always wanted to be a part of the Border Days royalty court. Being princess and being involved in the rodeo allows Remacle to do what she loves, “being out there and meeting new people,” she said. “Kaylee and I have made so many memories as our royalty year has gone by,” she added. “We haven’t gone to many events [due to COVID-19], “but my favorite one would have to be the crab feed. Being around little kids and helping out with games was a fun thing to experience, and I wouldn’t want it to be with anyone else.” She said one thing they missed that she wanted to attend was the Riggins Rodeo. “I’m bummed about that because I was really looking forward to representing Border Days at that rodeo,” she lamented. In high school, Remacle has been active in volleyball, basketball and softball, and has been a member of Prairie League. She was the Cottonwood Riding Club Princess in 2016.  Josie Remacle smiles at the audience during the 2019 royalty tryouts. Free Press Photo.
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