Bruce and Peggy (Harris) Davenport both grew up in Klickitat County. Bruce was raised on the family
ranch east of Goldendale that his great grandfather homesteaded in 1876. Peggy was raised west of
Goldendale near Blockhouse on a farm that her great grandfather had established. She grew up helping with the farm and family business–-crop dusting. Peggy’s dad, Jim Harris, taught her to fly airplanes at an early age. She became a licensed pilot before she had her drivers license. They both attended school in Goldendale and were high school sweethearts that graduated in 1973. Peggy attended cosmetology
school in Spokane and Bruce attended Spokane Community College and was a member of the rodeo team. He returned to the Davenport Ranch to help when his father, Jack, suffered a heart attack.
In 1976, Bruce and Peggy married and started farming and ranching in Goodnoe Hills. It was then they
began to lease property from several neighbors and friends to get their start. This included Bob Imrie,
Eleanor Dooley and Fred Wilkins, just to name a few. This allowed them to grow their own herd of Black
Angus cattle. In the summers, they ran cattle in the Simcoe mountains and later leased from Western
Pacific Timber. During the early years, Bruce ran several very successful trap lines. He would then sell
the skins to Mountain Fur Company. Peggy would help by checking trap lines while Bruce was at work.
The first year they were married Bruce harvested over 40 coyotes, bobcats, mink and beavers.
In 1978, they began their family with Brandy (Myers), followed shortly by Anna (Davenport). The
Davenports had their hands full as Bruce continued to rodeo and was one of the top bareback riders in
the country while working full-time. He won the bareback riding in several county and local rodeos, as
well as the all-around at the Klickitat County Rodeo in 1979. This was also the year he won the Pro West
with a broken foot.
In 1980 and 1981, Bruce rode for the Northwest Volcanoes at the Calgary Stampede
against international competition. The Northwest Volcanoes team won the world cup two years in a
row. Bruce then went on to win second at the North American Championships in Gallop, New Mexico in
1980. He went to this elite invitational with good friend and later 5-time world champion Clint Corey.
As most ranchers know, the key to successful cattle operation is a wife who works in town. In 1985,
shortly after Kayde Jo (Akins) was born, Peggy started the Hair Affair, a salon which she owned and operated for
nearly 40 years. To get through the lean times, Bruce and his brother Dave, leased "100 circles” at Crow
Butte, put together a crew and tended to a total of 1200 + mother cows for a number of years. He also
hauled hay all over the country, back when they still used hay hooks. It was in 1991, following their
fourth child, JimJack, that they moved their headquarters from Goodnoe Hills to Hoctor Road. This was
significantly closer and more convenient with the active family and both businesses. At that time, Bruce
was farming nearly 3200 acres and burning the candle at both ends.
Both Bruce and Peggy have been active in their community. Bruce has been a volunteer firefighter for
over 30 years and still is a CAT operator for DNR and Rural 7. He’s active within the Klickitat County
Sheriff’s department, as the Captain of the Central Division Posse and a member of the Cattlemen’s
Association. Bruce and Peggy were honored with the Cattlemen of the Year in 1996. Peggy served as
President of Klickitat County Cowbelle’s and Secretary of State Cowbelle’s–now called the Cattlewomen.
She was also a 4-H leader for several years, taking steer exhibitors to Central Washington Livestock
Show and Klickitat County Fair. The Davenports are members of the Christ The King Lutheran Church
and the Klickitat County Republican Party.
Upon hanging up his riggin', Bruce put on his rodeo coaching hat and has helped many young roughies. He’s
instilled a passion for rodeo in his kids and grandkids. Bruce and Peggy have put in many miles to haul
for their kids and grandkids. They’ve been to the High School National Finals Rodeo, College National Finals Rodeo,
Columbia Circuit Finals Rodeo...you name it! If they have a kid or grandkid competing, they are there either
hauling, pushing calves, watering horses, or cheering them on – and always videoing every event.
Bruce has been a member of the Klickitat County Rodeo Committee for many years. He was instrumental
in moving the arena to its current location and many other improvements throughout the years. He is a driving force behind
keeping the Klickitat County Fair Rodeo running smoothly, alongside hard working volunteers like Marty Hudson and Jim &
Skip Mulrony, just to name a few. To this day, Bruce, his kids and grandkids enjoy and participate in the
county rodeo events during fair week.
Klickitat County Fair has also been a incremental part of their lives. Not only did Bruce and Peggy grow
up raising and showing livestock (Bruce–steers; Peggy–sheep), their girls and grandchildren have
proudly shown Davenport Cattle steers for many year. They’ve also shown pigs and sheep. Bruce’s
grandma Sib was one of the co-founders of the Central Klickitat 4-H Club.
One of the most meaningful accomplishments was forming the Klickitat County Fair Rodeo Memorial Fund aimed at attracting
rough stock riders to our county rodeo. It was started in 1981 as the Bill Harris Memorial honoring
Peggy’s brother a bronc rider from our hometown. It is now called the “Cowboy” Memorial and is established as a non-profit
organization that rewards over 10 memorial buckles in remembrance of our own county cowboys and
cowgirls who all blessed us with there presence. In addition to awarding trophies and buckles, the
organization supplies the rodeo with equipment needed for the rodeo. This includes the reader board,
lights, panels, panel trailer, gates, arena groomer and timers to keep our rodeo going. This has been a
way to keep our rodeo running strong for the last 40 years.
Bruce and Peggy count their blessings, especially in their seven grandchildren: Jorgia and Jackie Bean,
Rydell and Olivia Myers, Chancy and Callahan Akins and Laney Davenport. Not only do Bruce and Peggy
attend rodeos; they attend FFA events, football, volleyball and basketball games, as well as wrestling
tournaments and track meets. However, they smile extra when the kids or grandkids have steers in the
ring, a rope in their hand or are on a promising horse. They are proud to have seven generations of
family involved on the farm and ranch.
Bruce and Peggy are grateful to live in a country where we are free to enjoy our God given rights and to
love our family & friends in our beautiful Klickitat County.