CCA Rodeo coming to town soon
Posted on June 15, 2017 by Maple Creek
Jared Parsonage competes in the Cowtown Pro Rodeo last year. With the pro rodeo's cancellation in 2017, Maple Creek Ag Society board member Roy Martin says he hopes to see people who would normally attend that to come out to June 24 and 25's CCA Rodeo. FILE PHOTOSean McIntosh
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A rodeo is coming to Maple Creek soon.
The CCA Rodeo will be held at the rodeo grounds June 24 and 25 with a number of different events.
There will be Saddle Bronc, Bareback, Bull Riding, Steer Wrestling, Tie Down Roping, Team Roping, Ladies Barrel Racing, Junior Girls Barrel Racing and Junior Steer riding.
The rodeo was organized by the Maple Creek Ag Society. One of the Ag Society’s board members, Roy Martin, says he’s excited all the planning for the rodeo is coming together.
“I’m very happy we’re able to host the rodeo,” he said.
Maple Creek hasn’t hosted a CCA rodeo in an estimated 20 years, according to Martin. With the cancellation of the Cowtown Pro Rodeo this year, he’s happy there is something that can fill the void.
“We’re hoping that the people who normally went to the Cowtown Pro Rodeo will come and support our rodeo. We’re thinking because there’s lots of local people, more will come and watch,” he said.
There will be more locals competing in the CCA Rodeo than there would have been in the pro rodeo, which hopefully brings a few more out, Martin added.
Martin expects the rodeo itself to be very competitive because it’s still early in the season.
“You have to compete in a certain number of rodeos to make the finals so usually the first rodeo is when the contestants try to build up their points and earnings. You can’t wait until the very end to make the finals,” Martin explained.
The Ag Society was interested in hosting the rodeo because they have direct connections to the competitors.
“A lot of the people in the Maple Creek Ag Society have competed in it before when they were younger or have kids competing in it,” he said.
A few members of the Ag Society will be competing the upcoming CCA Rodeo themselves, Martin added.
The Southwest is the type of community that is very supportive of rodeos, Martin said.
“There’s still quite a ranching culture going on here and that seems to breed contestants,” he said.
One thing Martin says he’s particularly excited about is the Bucking Horse Futurity, which goes Sat., June 24 at noon.
The organizer for that event is Blair Anton, a member of the United Bucking Horse Association. Bucking Horse Futurity is for younger horses, where they buck without a rider.
“It’s for trying out young horses, because they’re too young to put riders on, to see if they’re worth keeping and show some potential now,” Anton said.
It’s $150 to enter the competition, with $1,000 available in each category.
This is a part of the official UBHA circuit, meaning a horse will get a certain amount of points for winning. At the end of the year, the top six point-gathering horses will go to Las Vegas for the finals.
This is an event he hopes people are interested in seeing, Anton added.
“I’m happy to bring it there. Maple Creek has always been a rodeo town,” he said. “I know lots of people haven’t seen this event … I hope people come out and find out about it. It’s something different.”
It’s not clear how many will participate, but Anton estimated between 30 and 45 horses could go on June 24.
Admission for the rodeo is $10 a day, $5 for children between six and 12, and free for anyone five or younger. The rodeo begins at 4 p.m. June 24 and 2 p.m. on the 25th.
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