Saddle Up, Cowpoke: It’s Rodeo Time And Cheney Be Kicking Up A Little Dust

More than perhaps any other weekend, leather, denim, chaps, boots and Stetson hats will be the fashion of choice in Cheney on Saturday and Sunday.

Why?

The annual Cheney Rodeo saddles up at the Cheney Rodeo Grounds tonight at 6:30, Saturday at 5 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.

Throughout the three-day event, rugged and gutsy cowboys from the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association as well as local entries - 250 contestants in all - will compete in all the traditional, dust-kicking, mud-tossing rodeo events for an $11,000 purse.

“We had over 10,000 people last year at the rodeo,” said Herb Sagerser, advertising representative for the Cheney Rodeo. “This is the biggest weekend of the year in Cheney.”

In celebration of the annual rodeo, a parade will march on First Street in downtown Cheney at 11 a.m. Saturday.

Following today’s and Saturday’s rodeo, there will be a dance. Tonight is ladies night at the dance; all women get in for a mere dollar. Otherwise, the cost is $3 per person, $5 per couple.

All ages are welcome at both dances. A beer garden will be set up. Both nights, a live country band will supply the two-steppin’ entertainment.

On Saturday and Sunday at the rodeo, children ages 6 and under can participate in a balloon race. The kids will chase after balloons, dropped onto the ground, in an effort to find a balloon with $100 in it. All balloons will be stuffed with McDonald’s coupons.

Then on Sunday, after the final rodeo performance, Jimmy Dean and FROG-FM will sponsor the Jimmy Dean Showdown, a battle of the bands for up-and-coming country bands for cash prizes.

Advance tickets for the Cheney Rodeo are available in Spokane for $7 at Olsen Brothers Clothing, 1325 N. Division; Corral West Ranchwear, 9620 N. Newport Highway; Indiana Harness and Saddlery, 3030 E. Sprague; and the Boot Corral, 11511 E. Trent.

Tickets are $10 at the gate.