The 51st Annual Little Britches Rodeo will bring lots of ponies, steers, goats and other stock into the ring to be ridden, raced or chased by young cowboys and cowgirls competing from around the province on May 20-21.
Denise Little says she and all the other organizers are looking forward to another good turnout to the 100 Mile &District Outriders Arena for the terrific family fun of a youth (age 14 and under) rodeo event – and just hoping for better weather.
“It’s Canada’s 150th this year, so we are applying that [theme] to the rodeo … Saturday (May 20) will be focused on Canada’s 150th birthday, with people encouraged to wear red and white.”
Last year saw plenty of competitors despite the wet weather, with 120 entries in a large variety of rodeo competitions at the 2016 event. This year already has between 125-135 entries, she notes.
Once again the children’s events include goat-tail tying, break-away roping, steer riding; (girls) pole bending and barrel racing; and (boys) stake racing and chute-dogging; while younger children will compete in dummy-roping (without live animals).
Little adds the all-around winners (four) will each earn themselves a saddle, with buckles and other great prizes to be awarded to other leading contestants.
“We don’t have tickets available ahead of the event, they are only sold at the gate, on the days of the rodeo.”
Spectator gate prices are $10 for adults, $5 for seniors/students, while age six and under are free.
A concession will be serving food and refreshments at the rodeo.
Folks are asked to bring non-perishable food item donations for the food bank on Saturday, which will enter them in a basket draw.
Little says there will also be some Canada 150 Little Britches Rodeo merchandise for sale, including some hoodies, plus some free T-shirts will be thrown into the crowd.
A Tough Enough to Wear Pink campaign will see $1 from every spectator’s gate fee on Sunday (May 21) going toward breast cancer awareness, so people are then encouraged to wear pink to support that, she notes.
There will be random gate draws and some 50-50 draws that everyone can enter throughout both days, and a “program draw” people can enter by jotting their name down as they come in the gate and watching as the event progresses, she explains (one event program will be handed out for every spectator, group, or family).
Special events between the competitions included the Wild West Riders Drill Team performing both days – Saturday and Sunday – opening the Senior’s Division in the afternoons, she adds.
“The people I have talked to are excited about this year’s Little Britches Rodeo. I am looking forward to it, and people should come out and watch the kids, and cheer them on.
“There is definitely a lot of quality there – [these kids] have a lot of skill, they know what they are doing.”