Pioneer Days, Ronan get ready to host open rodeo
ADRIANNA JOHNSON takes her buckskin around barrel two in the Ladies Barrels in the Ronan Pioneer Days Rodeo last year. (Photo by Marla Hall/Special to the Leader)
The Ronan Pioneer Days will have its annual Open Rodeo that will be a two-day event starting at 7:30 p.m. Saturday night and begin at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Ronan Fairgrounds.
The rodeo will also have bulls & broncs starting at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Ronan Fairgrounds.
The rodeo will have traditional events such as saddle bronc riding, team roping, barrel racing and ladies breakaway roping.
Pete White, owner of Pistol Creek Rodeo Company, said he has been involved in some capacity with rodeos since he was young.
“Actively, this is my first year and passively, (I’ve been involved in rodeo) since I was 12 or so,” White recalled. “What I mean by actively is producing a rodeo and taking the reigns of managing a rodeo. I start gathering sponsors, taking entries and efficiently entertaining the folks.”
The Pistol Creek Creek Rodeo and the Pioneer Days Committee are great folks to work with and they put on a great community event,” White said. “Pioneer Days is a non-profit, and it’s great to have an event like this to be able to give back.”
White said he and his company are ready to host the event.
“It’s a pretty big event,” White said. “I’ve looked back at what I’ve done. I’ve been involved with the Flathead River Rodeo when it was managed by S & K Gaming, and from start to finish when I was in college, I hosted a few banquets working with the KwaTuqNuk. (Putting on an event) is all fundamental. We try to improve everything in the rodeo business. We are there for the fans and the sponsors. We are there to make an exciting atmosphere for our fans.”
This year the rodeo will have some special events including the Ring Of Fire. During the Ring Of Fire, they will have a Mexican Bull and participants from the crowd will have to dodge the fighting bull.
“These are folks that could be your neighbor,” participating in this White said.
One of the other featured events will include buffalo riding on Sunday.
The rodeo will have mutton bustin and bulls and broncs as part of the show. They will kick off the event at 6:30 p.m. Friday and sign ups will be limited to 20 participants.
“We have a short window for good rodeos in June, July, August and unless you are a professional traveling around the United States, (in Montana) we try to fit in as many rodeos as we can,” White said.