Fame Sometimes Comes In Unusual Ways

At 83, Lorraine Plass throws on her green fringed leather jacket and starts signing autographs. She’s a famous Rodeo Grandma now.

The Ellensburg Rodeo Grandmas, assembled more than a year ago for a Washington Mutual Bank commercial, make frequent appearances at rodeos, home and garden shows and other events. They’ll appear at the Spokane RV Show which runs today through Sunday at the Spokane Interstate Fairgrounds.

Plass and three others were selected by a public relations firm to become the Rodeo Grandmas. An Associated Press reporter wrote a story, and soon they were appearing nationwide on “Current Affair,” “PrimeTime Live” and “Entertainment Tonight.”

“It just boggles your mind,” Plass said in a recent telephone interview. “You can’t dream that anything like this will come up after a commercial.”

The grandmas, ranging in age from 63 to 83, delight crowds wherever they go. In parades, they earn standing ovations. At rodeos, the young ropers on the circuit request hugs.

The group includes Judy Golladay, whose cow dogs help her round up cattle; Peggy Minor Hunt, a trick roper, and steer roper Janis Capezzoli Anderson.

The group spokeswoman is Plass. Molly Morrow, the Rodeo Grandmas’ representative, says, “She’s like the ‘Where’s the Beef?’ lady. She’s funnier than heck.”

The folks in Ellensburg were impressed enough to put a photo of the Rodeo Grandmas on the cover of their telephone directory.

Last year a fan mailed Plass a Rodeo Grandma doll. The doll looked just like her, right down to the chaps, the gray hair and the green fringed leather jacket.

“When I opened that package, tears came to my eyes,” Plass said.

This week at the fairgrounds, watch for the Rodeo Grandmas’ booth. They’ll be shaking hands and selling T-shirts.

“Judy takes her cow dogs,” says Plass. “Peggy puts on her rope tricks, and I just open my big mouth.”