It’s “Football Time in Oakdale, California!”

These words remind me of the great Chris Ledoux song; its lyrics... “It’s Rodeo Time in Oakdale, California!” Here in Valley Home, we have lots of great people including great football stars and great rodeo stars! Our little community of Valley Home has some really amazing folks. Here are just a few of the latest group of hard-working young people; this is a very small list, of a bigger list to come, that have lived here in Valley Home ... so many more to be named in future columns. Tyler Malone, Oakdale Police Officer; Cody Fleischer, Owner of Pioneer Construction; Garret Lee, Firefighter; Wyatt Wurcherer, Agriculture; TJ Verdegaal, Hair Stylist; Bryce McKenzie, Arizona State, Engineering ... Our community is so very proud of each of our young people! We appreciate our Valley Home School and the amazing staff that is always there for our students every day. I know many of you reading this have very special memories of your time in Valley Home. I appreciate your calls, emails and your texts. I love to hear your stories of your time in Valley Home!

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This week with school beginning Thursday, August 4th, I thought I might share some of the things going on with some current Valley Home kids. We are excited to attend former Valley Home school’s Tommy Eproson’s Escalon High football games; Valley Home is so proud of you, Tommy. Two of our former Valley Home School students are playing Oakdale High football, Rowdy Sphar and Cooper Bartholomew. We are excited to go sit under those Friday night lights. What an exciting time. In the words of my grandson Cooper, I “really need to be on time!” These are the same words we hear every morning from him; I am sure other families hear those same words each morning. He grabs that water bottle, his football helmet and pads and heads out the door. As high school sophomores, Rowdy and Coop are getting close to that much sought-after driver’s license. For now, they still have to rely on family and friends for that ride into town to early morning football practice. This morning it was Rowdy’s dad Johnny Sphar bringing him into practice. It was a special treat for me to see Johnny and Rowdy in their favorite ranch truck heading into town; it made my day! Thanks, Johnny, for being a great dad. For our young people, especially those who live out in the country it’s sometimes a bit of a challenge to make that very important early morning practice on time. I am always impressed and inspired to see those who live within walking distance of the high school; the sun is barely up, there is still a cooling morning mist coming from neighboring yards as these dedicated young people make their way toward the high school. They are amazing, carrying that heavy gear and for some, walking long distances. They know it’s important to be on time. I am sure some of you reading this will remember your own early morning challenges getting to practice on time. For many of you hopefully this week’s column will bring back some very special memories! Whether it be football practice, swimming, water polo, golf, track, basketball, volleyball, soccer, baseball, rodeo, fishing derby, cheerleading, gymnastics, dance or an FFA or 4-H event, even a before school or after school job; it has always been important to be on time ... just not always easy. For me on this particular morning it brought an amazing sense of pride as we dropped off grandson Cooper; I thought of his grandpa, oh how I wish he was here to see this sight: the most beautiful high school football field in this entire state, a magnificent early morning sunrise, the greatest coaches and today, his grandson is on time for practice; I know he must be smiling! As I look around, I see other proud, dedicated family members and friends pulling up to this beautiful football field, all these special people up very, very early to drop off a young hard-working player. Varsity players are already at work on the field. For them early morning practice means getting up long before the sun is even up; the dedication of these amazing young people is something each of us can be very proud of. They are Mustangs and with that comes a tremendous sense of pride! No matter what it is your heart loves to do: sports, school activities, read, sew, hobbies, work ... even for those of you who have moved many miles away from our beloved Oakdale and Valley Home, many of you will always hold your memories of this area in a very special part of your heart! I would like to send a huge “Thank You” to the very dedicated and caring coaches, school staff, first responders and to our amazing community that goes above and beyond to support our young people!

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Today’s column ends with a tremendous shout out to an amazing Valley Home rodeo cowboy, Colton Farquer, who is competing in Cheyenne, Wyoming this week. Colton, we are so proud of you. It’s always rodeo time when Colton hits the road!

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As always you may reach me by email at winniemullins51@gmail.com or by telephone at 209-985-5233. Until next time, “Happy Trails To All!”