This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Poway Rodeo Anticipates 10,000 Attendees This Year

The annual event takes place this weekend.

Put your hats on and ride on over to the 39th annual Poway Rodeo for two days of fun on the range.

Watch cowboys and cowgirls show off their horsemanship and roping skills at the rodeo, one of the last qualifying rounds for the National Finals Rodeos, organized by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association — one of the largest and oldest rodeo-sanctioning groups in the world.

Competitors will participate in eight disciplines — saddle bronc riding, bareback riding, bull riding, calf roping, steer wrestling, team roping, single steer roping and barrel riding (the only women’s event sanctioned by the PRCA). 

Find out what's happening in Powaywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Fan favorite events include the bull riding and mutton busting portion of the competitions, Poway Rodeo Media Coordinator Joe Biggers said.

“Most people prefer the bull riding,” Biggers said. “They like to see the bulls come out in action. That’s the premiere event that everybody seems to like. They also like the kids on the mutton busting as well … but for the cowboys and the people that come to the rodeo, they really look forward to the bulls. But that doesn’t take away anything from the other events either though.”

Find out what's happening in Powaywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

For kids’ competitions, there will be junior barrel racing. In addition, wranglers who weigh 55 pounds or less can participate in the mutton busting competition, which requires contestants to stay on a sheep at least five seconds.

“The experience of our Western heritage for the people (is) something the younger generation need to experience,” Arena Manager Russ Sheldon said. “They say the best thing for a youngster is the back side of the horse. The kids love the animals. Not a lot of kids have their own animals, this is the only chance they get.” 

Wayne Brooks, a popular announcer at rodeos, will be the official commentator. There will also be a chili cook-off, clowns and a comedy act by Donnie Landis. There will also be food and commercial vendors, such as Hunter Steak House, Kettle Korn Cabana, Jeff’s Gourmet Jerky and Down N’ Dirty Hat Co.

Poway’s equestrian drill team, The Shooting Stars, will also perform.

The royalty of the rodeo will sign autographs and meet-and-greet the crowd. Brittney Phillips was crowned as Miss Rodeo Queen, Bridgette Lahaye as junior queen, and Halie Winder as the 2011 Young Miss.

On Friday, doors will open at 6 p.m. and the rodeo will begin at 7:30 p.m. After the show ends, there will be a free dance with country music by Southbound Jonny for those 21 and over. 

On Saturday, the gates will open at 11:30 a.m. The rodeo will begin at 1 p.m and start again at 6 p.m. for a 7:30 p.m. rodeo performance. Another free dance will be available for those who are 21 and over.

Sponsors at the event include Dodge, Budweiser, Albertson’s, Wal-Mart and Shelton Site Utilities.

“For a long time, this was a Coors rodeo,” Biggers said. “Now it’s a Budweiser rodeo.”

Other sponsors include , Ranger Doug’s Shootists’ Emporium and Pomerado News Group.

“Most of our sponsors are local, so a lot of them know each other,” Poway Rodeo Vice Chairwoman Nancy Kirchhofer said. “It’s just a nice, pleasant atmosphere up on top of the jumpwagon.”

After last year’s rodeo was over, the Poway Rodeo Committee immediately began preparing for this year’s event. 

“They have to get the grounds ready,” Biggers said. “They also have to hire the contractor who brings in the stock (and) puts up the bleachers — anything to get the grounds ready. It takes the rodeo committee about 10 to 11 months to plan the next rodeo. It’s not something that just happens overnight.”

In the past, each of the three rodeo events took place on one day. However, to avoid schedule conflicts for churchgoers and football fans on Sunday, the main events now occur over two days on Friday and Saturday.

Last year, about 10,000 to 12,000 people attended the event. The rodeo committee anticipates the same number this year.

“We’re hoping for 10 to 12,000,” Biggers said. “And the reason for that is we got three separate rodeos on three separate timeframes. We’re hoping we’re going to pick up some more people on Saturday afternoon, rather than Sunday afternoon.”

Kirchhofer is hopeful the rodeo's longtime involvement in the community will draw extra attendees.

“The fact that we’ve put on the rodeo for 39 years says quite a lot for the quality of the rodeo that we have and the dedication that the rodeo committee itself has to putting on that for the community. It’s a great community event, so hopefully, as many people can come out and watch us as possible,” said Kirchhofer, who has been with the rodeo committee for 27 years.

Sheldon, who has been with Poway Rodeo since its inception, has undertaken various roles over the years, such as parking cowboy ricks, serving on the rodeo committee and becoming chairman. He noted several highlights of the tradition.

“We’ve won the award several times for the best circuit rodeo in California. We’ve been in the top three for the small, outdoor rodeo in the United States. I think we’ve done a lot over the years by donating to charity. If we have a successful year, we donate part of the proceeds to various charities. We’ve worked with Make a Wish (and) the Boys and Girls Club. We’ve worked with Junior Rodeo, FFA — quite a different number of charities.” 

The rodeo will be held at the Poway Valley Riders Association Grounds on 14336 Tierra Bonita Rd.

There will be general admission tickets, preferred seating for up-close viewing of bull rides and Silver Buckle seating for an exclusive food vendor, bar, restroom and bleachers.

“This year, in our VIP section — our Silver Buckle seating — on the Saturday afternoon performance, we’re having that open for kids,” Kirchhofer said. “It’s a special deal where, for $20, they get their rodeo ticket, they have a balloon artist, face painter and the queen will go up and visit them. They will probably get up behind the scenes and look at the rodeo animals.”

For more information or to get tickets, which range from $5 to $48, visit www.powayrodeo.com.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?