Hi everyone, I hope you are all doing well. What a great blessing it is to live in such a beautiful patriotic community. “Happy Birthday America!”

A special “Thank You” to our wonderful County Supervisor Buck Condit and to our great Mayor Cher Bairos. They both do so much for each of us. For both of these amazing people, the colors of Red, White and Blue are etched into their lives … those colors have stood the test of time for each of us and for Cher and Buck. We send a huge “Thank You” to our men and women who are serving … or who have served in the armed forces. Because of you, we are able to live in a free country. We are so proud and so thankful to our Fire Department and our Law Enforcement … they save lives every day.

The word Americana is such a special word. It makes us think again of the Red, White and Blue … about banners hung from a front porch … flags waving in the evening breeze. It makes us think of ice-cold lemonade, apple pie, baseball and grandma’s homemade ice cream.

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Speaking of baseball, this week I would like to share more on a young man with deep roots in our Valley Home and Escalon area. Bryce McKenzie is entering his senior year at University of the Pacific. Bryce will graduate in May 2026 with a double major of sports analytics and sports management. Last spring he was fortunate to be included in a 10-day trip with the UOP Eberhardt School of Business to London. There he studied international sports and facilities management. He is currently in his third season working for the Stockton Ports baseball front office, as an inside ticket sales executive. He is very busy, but still finds time for woodworking, golf, and attending sporting events as often as he can. He is very much looking forward to being finished with college. Bryce attended Valley Home Elementary School. After Valley Home, he would go on to graduate from Escalon High School. We are so proud of you Bryce, we look forward to sharing more of your sports journey.

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Today, I would also like to share an update on a beautiful little dancer … Miss Lorelei is the three-and-a-half-year-old granddaughter of our Oakdale Leader Editor Marg Jackson. Lorelei loves to dance and will start her beginning hip-hop summer dance class soon. It’s just for fun … no recital. She is also signed up for Pee-Wee Soccer. She will probably like it because she loves to move fast and absolutely loves kicking. Not to mention she might have some natural ability as her mommy played travel soccer for years. Lorelei, along with her mommy, daddy and their dog Sonny just did a hike around Pinecrest Lake. Lorelei had so much fun splashing in the lake with Sonny.

She now has her own library card and loves going to pick out books. She also enjoys getting her book in the mail each month through the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. It’s an amazing program for young kids to encourage reading. Lorelei’s current favorite summer treat is sherbet … it’s actually what she is eating all the time now. She loves to help her daddy with any and all projects around the house and has finished her month of swimming lessons this summer. She’s a busy girl!

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As we go into the most patriotic holiday of the entire year, my thoughts turn to our appreciation of those beautiful flags we see lining the streets of Oakdale, the Cowboy Capital of the World. We have a deep appreciation of our rural lifestyle and the ranchers and farmers that work so hard to preserve our way of life. I think of the legends like Bill Martinelli who made their mark on our way of life; I think about our young cowboys, Colton and Caden Farquer, about Tanner and Travis Kent, about Wyatt Bankus and so many other talented cowboys, along with our local cowgirls, who are making their mark on our rural way of life. I am very thankful for the entire Oakdale Saddle Club and especially for Teri Pouncey, who is always there to help with any of our needs.

I am so grateful to our amazing school teachers, and especially grateful to our churches and our youth groups; they are making a difference in the lives of so many. I see the positive effects of amazing local businesses and am appreciative of the flag that flies so high above Gilbert Feed; ‘Old Glory’ still waves in Oakdale, California. *****

As always, you may contact me by email at winniemullins51@gmail.com or by telephone or text at 209-985-5233.

Until next time, “Happy Trails to All!”