By Angela Brown

North Battleford gears up for rodeo

Apr 14, 2017 | 12:05 PM

The local Kinsmen Club is hoping for another strong show of support for its big rodeo in North Battleford later this month, an annual event that’s approaching the half-century mark.

The 47th annual North Battleford Kinsmen Indoor Rodeo will take place at the Civic Centre, with shows at 7:30 p.m. on April 28 and 29, and at 1:30 p.m., April 30. Tickets are available at the door.

“The funds that are raised from this rodeo will stay in the community as they usually do,” said Heath Gabruch, Kinsmen rodeo committee chair.

Last year funds from the event helped the local Canadian Mental Health Association’s building project, as well as the Telemiracle fundraiser, which celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2016.

Through donations to Telemiracle, the Kinsmen Foundation assists Saskatchewan residents to obtain special-needs equipment and access various medical treatments.

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The local rodeo shows usually last about 2.5 hours. Following the performances, visitors are welcome to come to the upper auditorium for refreshments.

The event will include pony rides for the kids during intermission on Friday and Saturday.

The Rodeo Queen will also be crowned during intermission on Sunday afternoon.

“Usually we get good crowds,” said Gabruch of the show. “It’s one of the bigger events in the community every year.”

The competition includes bull riding, calf roping, tie-down roping, saddle bronc riding, bareback bronc riding, and ladies’ barrel racing, with cash prizes for participants with the most points.

A clown will be coming all the way from Florida to provide entertainment this year.

“We’ve heard good things about him, so hopefully that will be exciting to watch,” said Gabruch.

Rodeo participant and rodeo queen contestant Madisyn Gardiner, from Meota, is looking forward to the event, marking her second year taking part in the show.

The 14-year-old, who is on the riding drill team in the performance at the beginning of the rodeo, says she has always had a strong passion for horses and all animals, so taking part in the rodeo was a natural fit for her.  

“When I was younger, my grandmother gave me my first cowboy hat and my first cowboy boots,” Gardiner said. “Along with a stuffed horse, that just kind of got me going.”

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @battlefordsNOW