Children from Eastern Oregon will Let ‘er Buck in the Round-Up Arena on Thursday for the InterMountain Education Service District’s (IMESD) annual Children’s Rodeo.
The rodeo begins at 10:30 a.m.
This annual event, celebrating 35 years, provides children with special needs ages 5 through 10 years the opportunity to be cowboys and cowgirls inside the famous Round-Up Arena. About 50 children from around the region will rodeo “contestants” this year. Students from school districts in Baker, Morrow, Umatilla and Union counties are eligible to participate.
Spectators are welcome at the Children’s Rodeo and admission is free, but people will need to pay for tickets to the regular Round-Up Rodeo later in the afternoon.
Children will enjoy various activities that include riding horses, barrel racing on stick ponies, riding a pretend bull, Native American drumming and more. Participants will also be able to enjoy the theme of the day, Tough Enough to Wear Pink. Each participant receives a T-shirt, cowboy hat, lariat, scarf, trophy and a photo with their cowboy volunteer.
Dozens of volunteers, including PRCA and local cowboys and cowgirls, IMESD volunteers, Round-Up volunteers and community members work to make the Children’s Rodeo a success each year.
“Many of our participants and their families look forward all year to the Children’s Rodeo. We are thankful to have great support from the Round-Up, local businesses and many community volunteers,” said Children’s Rodeo Director Karen Parker.
The Children’s Rodeo is sponsored by the Pendleton Round-Up Association and the IMESD. Other contributors are the Let ‘er Buck Room and Pendleton Rotary.
For more information about the Children’s Rodeo, contact Parker, 541-966-3177 or karen.parker@imesd.k12.or.us
