Back in the saddle: Mission Mountain Rodeo rides again at Polson Fairgrounds

After a one-year hiatus, the Mission Mountain Rodeo returns to the Polson Fairgrounds this weekend.

Last year’s event, cancelled due to the pandemic, would have been the 80th annual rodeo at the facility, according to fairgrounds secretary Una Rose Graham.

“We’ve been busy for several months, especially June, getting the grounds in shape and ready for rodeo season,” Graham said.

The event is part of the Northern Rodeo Association circuit. Competition opens Friday and wraps up Saturday. This year’s stock contractor is Big Circle Rodeo Co. out of Circle, Mont.

The Mission Mountain NRA Rodeo received the 2015 Platinum Rodeo of the Year Award in a vote by NRA contestants and board members. It also won the Best Ground Award in both 2015 and 2016.

“We’re really grateful for the people who come out and the support from sponsorships to produce the rodeo,” Graham said. She said crews installed six new chute gates, and each was quickly attached to an event sponsor.

Events include bull riding, barrel racing, breakaway roping, junior barrel racing, junior bull riding, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, team roping and tie down roping.

Youth events include mutton busting, mini bulls and pony mini buckers, with stock supplied by 406 Rodeo out of Philipsburg.

Youth events will begin at 6:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, with adult competition beginning at 7:30. There also will be slack rodeo starting at 9 a.m. Saturday.

Tickets are available only at the gate and cost $10 for adults or $5 for kids age 12 and under. Kids age 3 and younger will be admitted for free.

After the rodeo on Friday there will be live music from Bob Wire of Missoula.

The Polson Fairgrounds also will host the Flathead River Rodeo Aug. 26-28. The event was named the Indian National Finals Rodeo Tour’s rodeo of the year in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.

Champions of the Flathead River Rodeo will advance directly to the 2021 Indian National Finals Rodeo at The Southpoint Equestrian Center in Las Vegas on Oct. 19-23. The Flathead River Rodeo will feature top rodeo competitors from across the United States and Canada.