In the Spring of 1981, local ranchers and packers met with representatives of the Wallowa County Chamber of Commerce and USDA Forest Service to explore the idea of putting together a new county event.

As a result, the mule - tough, intelligent, individualistic, often maligned, but the mainstay of the many packers and outfitters working in Wallowa County - was elevated to center stage for the first annual Hells Canyon Mule Days celebration on September 19 - 20, 1981.

Hells Canyon was an appropriate title because that area owes most of its early settlement and development to the mule which predominantly served as a major means of transportation to gain access to this rugged region of the county.

Given the well-known independence of Mule Days’ long-eared star, the entertaining, action-packed event has met its initial goal - both mule skinners and spectators a like can be part of this family oriented mule show, with events and games for all ages.

HELLS CANYON MULE DAYS
GRAND MARSHALS

1981 – WADE HALL & ETHEL THOMAS
1982 – MIKE & JOYCE McFETRIDGE
1983 – GLEN HAWKINS & GRACE BARTLETT
1984 – LEE MANES & LYNN MITCHELL
1985 – JESS EARL & CLARA HEARING
1986 – LAWRENCE & ILENE POTTER
1987 – CARMEN MAXWELL & A. L. DUCKETT
1988 – JOE McCLARAN & MARY MARKS
1989 – OAKLEY JOHNSON & HAZEL BARTON/FLEET

1990 – JOE ONAIDIA & GUS MALAXA
1991 – EMORY CRAWFORD
1992 – MAX & MARCEL WALKER .
1993 – JIM & JEAN BROOKS
1994 – JIM & LOIS BLANKENSHIP
1995 – GENE & MILDRED MARR
1996 – SAM & LAURA LOFTUS
1997 – DICK & BETTY HAMMOND
1998 – PEARL INGLE
1999 – DELBERT (DEB) WART

2000 – FRED TALBOTT
2000 – Noel & Genie Wright Honorary
2001 – MANFORD & VERA ISLEY
2002 – MEREL HAWKINS
2003 – ARNOLD SCHAEFFER
2004 – BENNIE BANKS
2005 – DOUG & JANIE TIPPETT
2005 – Bonnie Shields Honorary
2006 – BOB CASEY
2006 – Gerald Perren Honorary
2007 – BLANCHE MAXWELL
2007 – Gene & Bonnie Westberg Honorary
2008 – JUANA MALAXA & MARIE ONAINDIA
2008 – Mike Brennan Honorary
2009 – CARMEN KOHLHEPP
2009 – R. A. “Ace” Barton Honorary
2010 – BIDEN & BETTY TIPPETT
2010 – Ben Tippett Honorary

2010 Hells Canyon Mule Days Grand Marshals - Biden and Betty Tippett

There is a saying, “A Good Beginning Makes a Good Ending” and that is very true for Biden and Betty Tippett.

Biden came in to this world March 20th, 1926 at Whites Hospital in Lewiston, Idaho. The family
included five other children: Jack, Betty, Bob, Barbara, and Doug and they lived and were raised
on a cattle ranch at the mouth of Joseph Creek on the Snake River. Life in the canyon was modest
and uncomplicated compared to today’s way of life. Neighbors lived miles apart, but were willing to
help each other with daily ranch tasks if manpower was needed and always pulled together in an
emergency or crisis.

In the early days, means of transportation were horses, pack mules, teams and wagons. Supplies
were brought in to the ranch, that was located some 23 miles up river from Asotin, Washington,
by boat or pack mules. It wasn’t until 1938 when the road was built and travel was accessible up
river by truck or automobile. That same year the ferry was completed and the river could be
crossed at Rogersburg.

Biden attended a country school until 7th grade when he moved to Clarkston and boarded out
during his high school years. After graduating from Clarkston High School in 1944, Biden
joined the Navy and served his country for two and a half years before returning to his home in
the canyon.

Betty Heasty, the City Girl, was born in Wallowa and moved to Enterprise with her family when
she was two years old. Betty was the middle child of three children. Her older sister Claudine and
younger brother Mitch rounded out the family home. Betty graduated from Enterprise High School
in 1945.

The two meet when Biden was herding cattle in the valley and the spark was ignited. Biden
recalls his happiest memory being that special day in June of 1948 when he married Betty at the
Community Church in Enterprise.” Their two children, daughter Donna and son Casey, were raised
on the Jim Creek ranch until it was time to attend high school, Betty moved into Enterprise with
them and Biden stayed on the ranch.

They worked together for many years and lived for 44 years on their Jim Creek ranch in the
Snake River area. Their years of ranching was split with the winter range being in the canyon and
the summer range in the hill area. Betty tells the stories about riding horses, right alongside her
man, but admits she’s wasn’t a “horse person,” and only did it when she had too. She also recalls
having to work with mules too, but admits it wasn’t her favorite thing because she felt the mules
were smarter than her. She tells the story of the time that a mule got into her recently planted
garden and rolled in the nice warm soil; there wasn’t a straight row of vegetables that year.

The Jim Creek Ranch was sold in1992 to the U.S. Forest service. They both admit that they are
fortunate for the years and the memories they share of their life in the canyon. In 1977 Biden and
Betty formed a partnership with their son Casey. Biden is still riding tall in the saddle and working
with his son Casey and grandsons Quinton and Grady, for you know it is a family tradition.

They still own land and run cattle. They still enjoy themselves, even if it’s a different life than the
one they knew for so many years and they are still a team working together...

Ben Tippett by Janie Tippett

2010 HELLS CANYON MULE DAYS HONORARY GRAND MARSHALL, BEN TIPPETT

Although Ben was born in Nez Perce County WA his heritage grows deep in Wallowa County history. Named after his grandfather Sylvester, who, along with his grandmother Effie homesteaded out on the Chesnimnus country, Ben, the son of Ralph (Mose) and Lois Tippett has carried on in the Western tradition.

As a young boy Ben worked with his dad during the summers, haying, working in sheep camps, building fence and cowboy’in. Thus leaning early those ranching skills he would use the rest of his life.

Ben graduated from Asotin High School where he played basketball, then served in the U.S. Airforce for four years. When he returned from the service he went to work for his cousin Jack Tippet down on Joseph Creek, and worked briefly for a rancher named Audet, on Prairie Creek.

Another cousin Doug Tippett hired Ben to help run the Dog Bar Ranch on Snake River. Doug also hired a pretty young girl named Jackie Kingsford to help with the cooking and housekeeping. Ben married that little gal and together Ben and Jackie stayed down at the house at Dug Bar through calving, until the cattle were trailed out on top in the Spring. During this time Ben and Jackie also helped with the Guide Service Doug ran on Snake River. Spending many hours in the saddle and packing mules was just a way of life for Ben.

Ben and Jackie settled on part of the Doug Tippett ranch where Ben continued to work for Doug, trailing cattle to the hills in the Spring and back into the valley in the fall. Ben tended to the calving, winter feeding, put up hay, irrigated, and built and repaired fences. Those were just part of his daily chores. Ben was more than just a hired hand, he was a rancher with the best of them.

Ben and Jackie had two girls Stephanie and Sarah, and two boys Zack and Seth. Just when Jackie was enjoying her grandchildren and was looking forward to many more years with her family, she died a victim of cancer.

After Doug sold the ranch Ben went to work the Associated Ditch Company and lives at the Lake. Ben continues to own his small ranch on Liberty Road.

Big news: Ben just got married!

For Three Days of Family Fun
Pack 'Em Up and Head 'Em out for Hells Canyon Mule Days
Enterprise, Oregon   ·  Wallowa County Fairgrounds
"Always the Weekend after Labor Day"