Area rodeos approaching

Rodeo fans will not be disappointed after Woodward’s Elks Rodeo concludes as several towns around the area will be gearing up for rodeos of their own.

Fairview and Seiling will hold rodeos later this month. Throughout August rodeos will occur in Arnett, Waynoka, Cherokee and Freedom.

The Freedom Rodeo will be different this year. It will not be an open rodeo. Instead, organizers have partnered with the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) to put on their rodeo which begins Aug. 13 and runs through Aug. 15.

“As an open rodeo we had trouble getting rough stock riders,” said Mark Nixon, secretary of the Freedom Chamber of Commerce. “ We’re not trying to change a lot of stuff from the past, but we have to comply with PRCA guidelines and regulations now.”

One of those new regulations is the PRCA taking over entries to the event. So those who want to enter have to be members of the PRCA.

Nixon said that the new rodeo format should not have an effect on attendance and should in fact help it in the future.

The Freedom Rodeo will be held in the Rhodes Park Arena off of Highway 50.

At the beginning of August one of the oldest rodeos in Oklahoma will take place once again in Waynoka. The 73rd Cimarron River Stampede Rodeo is Aug. 6-8.

Vernon Barnes of the Waynoka Chamber of Commerce said the rodeo is Texas Cowboys Rodeo Association (TCRA) and Kansas Cowboys Rodeo Association (KCRA) sanctioned.

“We usually have several thousand people,” Barnes said. “They’ve been putting on a good show for the last couple years.”

Jay Stout from Ponca City will be the rodeo clown. Guy Farrell from Alva will be the announcer.

It will be Farrell’s first time at the Stampede Rodeo.

“I think everybody will be real pleased with him,” Barnes said.

Each of the rodeo performances will start at 8 p.m. Barnes said.

Besides the rodeo, there will be a downtown parade, musical chairs and rodeo dances held on Aug. 7 and Aug. 8.

At the end of this month Seiling will hold its 24th Annual Open Rodeo at the Flying W Arena July 30-31 and Aug. 1.

The Seiling rodeo is TCRA sanctioned and will also feature a dance July 31 and Aug. 1, a parade Aug. 1 beginning at 10:30 a.m., little princes contest on July 30, and Queen Horesmanship Contest on July 31.

In addition, the Seiling Rodeo will have a Little Mr./Mrs. Bucakroo Contest for children under 2 years of age and a Little Mr./Mrs. Cowboy/Cowgirl Contest for 3 to 5 year olds.

Arnett’s TCRA Rodeo will run Aug. 21-22. The Arnett Rodeo is in its 80th year and typically features between 200 and 300 contestants.

In addition to the rodeo there will be a parade through town in the afternoon on Aug. 22.

For the kids, both nights the Arnett Rodeo will feature Muttin Bustin’ and on Aug. 22 Donkey Bustin’ will occur as well.

Cherokee’s Great Salt Plains Stampede will be the same weekend as Arnett’s Rodeo.

The TCRA and Open Rodeo will occur at the Alfalfa County Fairgrounds. Each night there will be junior barrels and a junior calf roping events. Also the queen and princess and junior princess contest will be going on before the rodeo performances begin at 8 p.m.

On Aug. 22 a parade will go through downtown beginning at 10 a.m.

The next rodeo to be held in the area will be Fairview’s Wrangler Rodeo July 24-25.

About 200 contestants entered last year’s TCRA, KCRA and open rodeo.

Besides the rodeo, on July 23 a pet parade will be held downtown beginning at 10:30 a.m. Awards will be handed out in 12 categories including Best Dressed Animal, Best Dressed Cowboy, Best Dressed Clown and Best Dressed Cowgirl.

On July 24 the princess and queen of the rodeo will be crowned. On July 25 a parade will go through downtown Fairview beginning at 10:30 a.m.

Tami Hubble, who has helped organize the Wrangler Rodeo, said that anyone is welcome to be in the parade as long as they show up at the Rodeo Arena around 9:30 a.m.

After the rodeo concludes on July 25 there will be a dance.

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