Yeehaw! it’s Rodeo Time again and the Hazeltons are gearing up for another great year.
Businesses are getting all decked out in rodeo gear and memorabilia, horse trailers are pulling into town and cowboy hats can be seen everywhere.
The rodeo is one of my favourite events in the area every year without a doubt. Known as one of the best little rodeos in the west, the Kispiox organizers do it up like few can. They boast the second largest drill team in Canada and the Allen’s have been not only instrumental in the success and organizing of the prestigious event but they were also well known in the rodeo circuit throughout North America for their prize winning bucking stock. While the Allen’s have somewhat retired from breeding finite bucking horses, they are a huge part of the rodeo in so many ways. Joy is the driving force behind the scenes making sure all the events are organized, volunteers coordinated, committees functioning, Drill team practicing and on and on and on. Gene is a the man who makes sure the horses and other stock are there and ready to go and is a big player behind the scenes and always found hanging out behind the shoots encouraging riders and making people smile.
The rest of the Allen gang are always supportive and there is just not enough room to tell you all how much this family does not only for the rodeo but for our communities. A huge hats off to the Allen family for making our hometowns a better place!
Now, as for the rodeo, there are so many great events this weekend that it is hard to talk about them all justly. First off, the BCRA sanctioned events themselves are phenomenal to watch and people of all ages enjoy the competitions. Of course the bareback, bronc and bull riding are all favourites but other events such as the barrel racing, pole bending, calf roping and steer wrestling are just as great to watch too. Then there are the several amazing events for the children such as mutton busting, stick horse races and the calf cash grab for the youngsters which I think is wonderful and I know my boys have been talking about it for weeks already. The children even get medals and trophies for participating.
There is the rodeo Queen competition, the Western Idol, great dances, pancake breakfasts, horse drawn wagon rides and much more. It really is a truly family weekend full of fun for everyone.
If you haven’t made it out to the rodeo in a few years or never at all, don’t miss your opportunity this weekend to catch some of the action.
Shannon Hurst is the Three Rivers Report correspondent and writes the weekly My Town column.
