New features to greet fans at rodeo

The always popular and renowned Woodward Elks Rodeo will make its 79th appearance July 13-18 at the Crystal Beach Stadium.

New features have been added to the usual rodeo schedule, and they will take place in a newly renovated stadium.

Crystal Beach Stadium was going through construction work last year, which made it a little difficult for spectators to enjoy the rodeo. But this year, things will be different.

“It looks great,” said Greg Balch, the Woodward Elks Rodeo Committee chairman. “The people will be really impressed. They need to come out just to see what it’s like now.”

Neal Day, also a member of the Elks Rodeo Committee, said last year people who attended were told that their discomfort would be a small price to pay for the completion of the arena.

“We told them it would be well-worth it,” Day said. “This year they’ll be able to see the well-worth it part.”

Balch and Day said some of the entertainers for the rodeo will be new this year at well.

Specialty act Keith Isley is new. Day said that the Elks Committee had been trying for several years to get the man who performs different acts each night of the rodeo.

Both bullfighters for the event, Kelly Jennings and Luke Kraut, are also new.

“Kelly Jennings is a top of the line bullfighter,” Day said.

Also, one of the three bands that will be performing over the course of the rodeo’s seven days, the Charlie Lucas Band, is new.

The biggest change to the rodeo this year though might be the motorcycle barrel races that will take place at the end of each rodeo performance.

Committee members said children 12 and under will be able to race on July 15. Those 13 and over will get their chance on July 16. Four wheelers will be allowed on the rodeo arena grounds on July 17 and as of right now 750cc motorcycles will race on July 18. This is not official however, Balch said the arena’s surface will have to be tested to ensure the bikes can ride on it safely.

“I think we’ve got a very good line-up planned,” Balch said.

Events begin on July 13 in Buffalo at the Blake Lauer Memorial Arena with steer roping.

“It is one of the top three or four steer roping events in the country as far as quality and prize money go,” Day said.

About 70 steer ropers will compete in the event that begins at 9 a.m.

The next day things get kicked off in Woodward with the longhorn steer drive through downtown at around noon. That night will be the slack competition at the stadium.

The slack competition is free to anyone who wants to watch.

On July 15 the first performance of the rodeo begins at 8 p.m. Before that at 11 a.m. there will be a hamburger feed in Centennial Park. It is also Kids Night. Twenty bikes will be given away in a drawing at the rodeo arena.

“We’ve made it pretty easy to bring the whole family,” Balch said, noting that ticket prices have not increased from last year and kids 12 and under will be admitted for free if they bring two nonperishable food items to the arena.

The night is caped off at the Elks Lodge with a dance and musical performance by Overdrive.

July 16 will feature a barbecue and beans feed at the arena, which is free to anyone with a rodeo ticket beginning at 6 p.m. The second rodeo performance, Keith Isley act and the popular musical chairs will cap the night.

On July 17 there will be a golf tournament at Boiling Springs Golf Course. The tournament will be composed of two-man teams. For more information, such as how to register, go to www.woodwardelksrodeo.com.

July 17 will also be the first day the Western Art Show will be held at Josie Adams Cultural Center beginning at noon.

That night at 6 p.m. will be a hamburger feed, free to those with a rodeo ticket, and the third performance of the rodeo. Following this will be a dance at the Woodward County Fair Building featuring the Charlie Lucas Band and Mark McKinney.

The Elks Rodeo wraps up events on July 18 in grand style. The Western Art Show continues that day at the Josie Adams Cultural Center. At 10 a.m. the annual parade through downtown will occur.

That evening at the arena the chuckwagon will be out for a feed that costs $5 per plate. It is also “Tough Enough to Wear Pink” night at the rodeo.

Balch said that all PRCA events try to do the “Tough Enough to Wear Pink” night in order to raise funds for breast cancer. Balch said the goal of this year’s night is to raise $5,000 to fight the disease.

After the final performance at the arena, the Woodward Elks Rodeo will conclude with a dance at the Woodward County Fair Building featuring Mark McKinney and Jason Boland and The Stragglers.

Tickets are available at the ticket window on 9th Street and Main Avenue.

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