Our Community Cider Project
Our annual release of Rodeo City Community Cider features fruit donated by Kittitas Valley locals, making each year’s blend as unique and special as the project's highlighted beneficiary. Each year the WLC team identifies a local 501-(C)3 non-profit within Kittitas County, as a recipient of a donation gift. The program was designed to create a collaborative experience from tree to bottle to table to gain community participation in support of our local non-profits. Past recipients include the Cattlewoman’s Association, The Trellis Center and this year we are pleased to partner with Kittitas County Search and Rescue. A win win for everyone as we are able to create a unique cider that reflects Ellensburg, support the ongoing work of a non-profits and build a stronger and richer community. It’s met with enthusiastic support and last year the apple donations doubled and we were able to increase our gift to $5,000.
We are proud to announce our 2025 RCCC recipient the Menastash Grange!
Our 2024 recipient was Kittitas County Search and Rescue! KCSR is an all volunteer, non-profit organization, that operates under the direction of the Kittitas County Sheriff. Founded in 1991, KCSR provides crucial search, rescue, recovery, and evacuation services to Kittitas County, as well as mutual operations with departments and organizations as needed. Without them, our community would lack critical emergency support, making it difficult if not impossible, in many situations for people to receive the help they require. We recognize the invaluable benefit that their team provides to Kittitas County and are proud to support such a vital service to our community.Learn more about this organization https://kittitassar.org
Our 2023 recipient was the Trellis Center! This incredible organization fosters a sense of purpose and belonging in teens and adults with developmental disabilities and they provide an environment where these individuals can continue to learn, grow, have social relationships, and work toward independence. Learn more about this organization https://thetrelliscenter.com/
Our winner for the 2022 Rodeo City Community Cider was Kittitas County CattleWomen! Founded in 1953, the CattleWomen are involved in promoting the beef industry and their overall way of life. CattleWomen started a memorial fund in 1991, and in 2009 they decided to start utilizing this fund to support women who are enrolled to receive a major or minor in an ag-related field in a technical, trade school or University. Find out more about this amazing organization here.
Read more about our collaboration in the Daily Record
Thank you to all those who have donated fruit, time, and to those who purchase our Rodeo City Community Cider! Our collaborative efforts help WLC support local non-profits in their individual missions to help support and enhance our community! We are stronger together!
Wheel Line Cider at Ag Days 2023
Thank you Kittitas Valley Event Center for the opportunity to teach our youth about our favorite fruit- the apple!
More specifically, dessert apples and the history behind many of the varietals.
RCCC Artist
As the community cider project enters its third year, it is unveiling a new label that adds an element of visual storytelling to the cider tasting experience. Wheel Line Cider is proud to announce that the 2024 Rodeo City label will feature the vibrant, enchanting, and captivating work of local artist, Mary Diefenbach Duke! Mary, through her brush strokes and brilliant use of color was able to not only capture the essence of her muse, Boy, but also encapsulate the agricultural spirit of our beautiful valley.
Mary Diefendback Duke started painting when she was 12 years old and recalls that she would paint on any surface she could find, including, much to her mother’s dismay, her bedroom walls! Her extraordinary use of high key color stems from her love of impressionist painters such as Mary Cassat, Bertha Morisot, and Marie Bracquemond. The beauty and vastness of Kittitas Valley fuels Marys’ creative flair and offers her a myriad of plein air settings in which she draws inspiration.
Upon her departure from a plein air gathering at Wheel Line Cider, Mary was captivated by a “magnificent bull grazing in his pasture. I marveled and puzzled over how he could maneuver so easily with his incredible sized horns, and absolutely had to paint his portrait.” The Watusi with the notable horns had been a long-time staple, a mascot if you will, of the Upper Badger Pocket community. His name was Boy. In her quest to capture the spectacular, gentle giant, Mary traveled to the pocket many times to observe him, the result of her study and craft is nothing short of stunning.
You can find more information and view more works of art by Mary by visiting the following:
Instagram @Maryjaneiceduke.
Artists page on Gallery One website.
Larson Gallery in Yakima.
Mary also is honored to have a painting exhibited until the end of summer at the Gonzaga University Jundt Museum.
She is also scheduled to premiere a joint show with another local artist this November at the Palace Gallery.
Gallery One gift shop.
In an effort to enhance collaboration efforts and garner even more community involvement we have decided to reach out to our local artist community! This annual opportunity invites Kittitas County artists to submit work that they feel captures the beauty and essence of our community. The artwork that is chosen will be featured on that years Rodeo City Community Cider label, and they will also be featured on our website and social media platforms.
For more information or to submit your artwork please click the button below:
