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| Youngsters chase after little pigs during the pig scramble at last year’s Coos County Rodeo in Myrtle Point. Kids can try for pigs during the rodeo on Saturday night this year. World File Photo. |
Rodeo returns to fairgrounds this week
By Staff Reports
Thursday, July 24, 2008 10:55 AM PDT
This year’s Coos County Rodeo, running Friday and Saturday in Myrtle Point, will have everything rodeo fans have come to expect from the Northwest Professional Rodeo Association circuit, with a few new additions.
Both nights, starting at 7 p.m., the regular mix of rodeo events will begin: bareback bronc riding, saddle bronco riding, barrel racing, calf roping, steer wrestling, team roping, breakaway roping and bull riding.
Rodeo Chairman Mel Vaughn said the rodeo has about 100 professional competitors lined up, competing on different nights.
“If you show up Friday night, and come back again Saturday night, you’ll see a whole different group,” he said.
Kids’ events start both nights at 6:30 p.m., including mutton busting and — new this year — pony bareback riding.
There will be other events for youngsters during the normal rodeo itself, after 7 p.m., including junior bull riding both nights and a kids’ pig scramble Saturday night.
Sponsored by 4-H, the pig scramble involves youngsters jumping in a pen to try and grab a pig and take it home with them.
“The kids get a chance to catch a pig, and raise it, and learn the joys of doing that,” said Vaughn.
Another highlight will be the bounty bull, which is drawn from the normal stock of bulls. Some lucky rider gets a shot at the $250 prize for riding it, donated by Verger Dodge. Each year the rider fails to ride the bull, the prize carries over — it’s now at a cool $750.
This year the hospitality room, usually open only to sponsors, is open to sponsors, contestants and their companions.
This year’s Coos County Fair and Rodeo has a new Web site, at www.cooscountyfairandrodeo.com/. The site has a complete list of fair prices, sponsors, a schedule and an extensive slideshow of past rodeos.
Entry to the rodeo is free with admission to the fair, which is $8 for adults and seniors and $3 for children. |