Friday, March 29, 2024

Two rodeos coming to Lake Chelan Valley over next two weeks

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CHELAN - With August less than a week away, amateur and professional cowboys from across the PNW will be herding into the Chelan Valley for both the Lake Chelan Junior Rodeo and the Lake Chelan Rodeo over the next two weeks at the Chelan Rustlers Arena.

The kids kick off the fun this weekend, July 29 and 30, with over 20 events including: saddle bronc, roping, barrel racing and steer roping.

Former Chelan FFA Advisor Rod Cool has been the chairman for the Junior Rodeo for years, but after he announced his intention to leave Chelan for Quincy, Bernice Bernatz - who has volunteered for the big rodeo - formed a committee and worked with a stock contractor out of Moses Lake to put together the show.”

“Unlike large rodeos, the junior rodeo is broken into age groups with the same events for all age groups,” Bernatz said. “Age groups are split from the little people (5u), peewee (8u) juniors (9-15) intermediates (12-14) and junior intermediate (15-18).”

Both Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m, , over 100 kids will compete for prizes in all age groups.

“When you get a tiny boy going around barrels, it can be pretty slow. They are allowed to do all the things as the big kids, but with some help,” Bernatz said. “If a kid belongs to the Caribou Trail Association, the points they earn in the rodeo will go toward the state competition at the end of the year.”

“Mr. Cool has done a really good job and we really appreciate what he has done over the years,” Bernatz said.

Chelan FFA Alumni will be running a cook shack and the Chelan Rustlers will have a couple booths as well. Admission to the Junior Rodeo is free.

The following week, the adult cowboys and cowgirls will take over the Chelan Rustlers Arena. Performances on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 4, 5 begin at 7:30 p.m. Gates open at 5 p.m. Admission is $11 for adults, $7 for students and seniors and free for ages six and under. Tickets in advance are available at the Chelan Shell Food Mart.

More information on the Lake Chelan Rodeo can be found at facebook.com/Lake-Chelan-Rodeo-190570474400112/.

Zach Johnson can be reached at lcmeditor@gmail.com or (509) 682-2213

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