Saddle Up For Summer Circuit Of Rip-Snortin’ Rodeos In Region

The rodeo is to the Northwest as apple pie is to America.

It’s a tradition.

In cities large and small across the region, the rodeo has long been a community event that draws its people together.

That hasn’t changed.

Every year, there are numerous rodeos occurring all through the season, from large professional ones like the Pendleton Round-Up and the Calgary Stampede, to small amateur ones like the Deer Park Rodeo.

The following is a guide to the rodeos happening this summer in the Inland Northwest:

The Lind Rodeo takes place this weekend - Saturday and Sunday - at the Lind Rodeo Grounds.

Both rodeo performances begin at 2 p.m.

On Saturday, there’ll be events such as a parade and a barbecue in the park.

The event not to miss this weekend: the combine demolition derby, tonight at 6:30, and the businessmen calf-roping, Sunday at 9 a.m.

The rodeo grounds are one mile west of Highway 395 on Highway 21. Call (509) 677-3655 for more information.

Republic’s 39th annual Prospectors’ Days begins today and runs through Sunday.

The Professional Western Rodeo Association (PWRA) sanctioned rodeo at the Ferry County Fairgrounds is the main attraction. Rodeo performances are tonight at 7 and Saturday at 6 p.m.

There will be a host of other Prospectors’ Days events, as well. They include a kiddie parade, casino night, a street dance, a fun run, a car show, a barn dance, a golf tournament and many others.

Admission to the rodeo is $6, $4 for children, $16 for a family of four.

The Ferry County Fairgrounds are on Highway Highway 20, three miles south of Republic.

For more information, call (509) 775-2012.

Mark your calenders, the Newport Rodeo will hole up at the Newport Rodeo Grounds June 23-25.

The PWRA rodeo will also feature special trick rider Craig “The Flying Norwegian” Johnson.

Rodeo performances are at 8 p.m. on June 23 and 24, 2 p.m. on June 25.

Tickets are $6 for the June 23 and 25 performances, $7 for the June 24 performance. Children get in for $3 at all shows.

Call (509) 447-3423 for more information.

The Kootenai River Rodeo in Bonners Ferry gets under way June 23 and continues through June 25.

The rodeo is sanctioned by the PWRA.

For more information, call (208) 267-5786.

The 28th annual Cheney Rodeo occurs July 7-9.

Cowboys from the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) will be performing all the favorite rodeo activities.

Times for the rodeo are: July 7 at 6:30 p.m., July 8 at 5 p.m. and July 9 at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $7 ($10 at the gate).

A Jimmy Dean-sponsored talent contest follows the rodeo on Sunday on the rodeo grounds.

Local rodeo entries for saddle bronc and barrel racing will be accepted. Call 235-2216 for more information about those events.

For more information about the rodeo or to purchase tickets call the Rodeo Office at 235-4848.

Travel north of the border to Alberta for one of the world’s largest rodeos, the Calgary Stampede.

The 10-day event, July 7-16, will be highlighted by world-class rodeo professionals attempting to conquer some of the West’s wildest stock for a $500,000 purse.

Last year, the Calgary Stampede drew in more than 1 million people during over the course of 10 days.

All rodeos start at 1:30 p.m.

Chuckwagon racing begins at 8 p.m.

Tickets are $19 and $39. Call (800) 661-1767 for reservations.

On July 15, the Budweiser Bull Bash muscles its way into the Spokane Interstate Fairgrounds.

The event features top-notch professional bull riders testing their courage on the giant untamed beasts.

For more information, call 535-1766.

The Deer Park Rodeo happens July 21-22.

The rodeo coincides with the Deer Park Community Fair, which runs July 20-23.

The biggest attraction at the Deer Park Community Fair is the Tri-County Settlers Parade, which is the longest, continuously running, community event in Washington state history.

The rodeo starts at 7:30 p.m. both nights.

Tickets are $6, $3 for children.

The rodeo to end all rodeos, the Omak Stampede, will begin Aug. 10 with the All-Horse-Ride-In Parade.

The rodeo continues through Aug. 13.

There will be four performances of the rodeo. And, every performance will be preceded by the World Famous Suicide Race.

Tickets prices range from $5 to $10 and are going fast. The $12 tickets have already sold out. To order tickets, call (800) 933-6625.

The Grant County Fair and the Moses Lake Round-Up get under way Aug. 15 and continues through Aug. 19.

The rodeo features cowboys from the Columbia Basin Rodeo Association (CBRA).

Performances occur Aug. 17, 18 and 19 at 7:45 p.m. Prior to the shows, the famous chuckwagon racers from the Calgary Stampede will tear through the rodeo grounds.

On Aug. 15, a hot Wyoming country music star (we can’t tell you who) will play in the Grand Stand Rodeo area.

Tickets for the rodeo are $8 and up.

Call (509) 765-3581 for more information.

The PRCA will be at the North Idaho Fair in Coeur d’Alene Aug. 25-27.

This year the format has been expanded to three rodeo shows.

PRCA Rodeo Clown of the year in 1989, 1990, 1991 and 1993, Butch Lehmkuler, also known as “the man with the trampoline,” will be on hand to entertain.

“We have found the rodeo to be, probably, the most popular events we do here,” said General Manager Barbara Renner. “That’s our reason for doing a third performance.”

Admission is $5.50, $2 for children ages 6-12 and under. Children 5 and under attend free.

Call (208) 765-4969 for more information.

The Ritzville Rodeo, which coincides with the Wheatland Community Fair, saddles up during the Labor Day weekend.

Rodeo performances are on Sept. 2 and 3.

For more information, call (509) 659-1936.

One of the Northwest’s most attended rodeos is the Pendleton Round-Up in Pendleton, Ore.

The PRCA rodeo happens Sept. 13-16.

All rodeo performances are at 1:15 p.m. Ticket prices range between $7 and $15.

For more information, call (800) 45-RODEO.

In Spokane, four rodeo performances will coincide with the annual Spokane Interstate Fair at the Fairgrounds.

The rodeos occur Sept. 14-17.

Times for the Sept. 14, 15 and 16 rodeos are at 7 p.m. On Sept. 17, it kicks off at 1:30 pm.

For more information, call 535-1766.

The Othello Rodeo Grounds will be the site for the Othello PRCA Rodeo, Sept. 15-16.

In keeping with tradition, the rodeo will be part of the annual Adams County Fair, which runs Sept. 13-17.

For more information, call the Othello Chamber of Commerce at (800) 684-2556.