By Brian Argabright
The 830 Times
It’s rodeo time in Del Rio once again!
After skipping 2020 due to the pandemic, the annual Del Rio Rotary Club’s Independence Day Rodeo returns to the Val Verde County Fairgrounds for a two-day performance Saturday and Sunday.
The event, which will be produced by the Lester Meier Rodeo Company, will feature both timed events, such as barrel racing, calf roping and steer wrestling, and rough stock events, such as bareback bronc riding, saddle bronc riding and bull riding.
It will also feature several activities for the youngest of fans, from stick horse racing to mutton bustin’ to the calf scramble.
“It’s gonna be a good one. I think people are ready,” Chris Ryan, past president of the Del Rio Rotary Club, said. “We’ve sold out all our sponsorships and we’re expecting a big crowd.”
The annual rodeo serves as the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Del Rio Rotary Club. Monies raised go back into the community and aid in the construction, renovation or restoration of a variety of projects near and dear to the club. In the past those projects have included the community splash pad, the purchase of playground equipment for children with disabilities, the planting of shade trees and the construction of picnic tables at Rotary Park.
The rodeo also helps to fund scholarships doled out to area students each year. Ryan said that thus far the Del Rio Rotary Club has awarded 11 scholarships worth a total of $11,000, but there are still $5,000 in scholarships that will be awarded to students who plan on attending technical schools.
This year also marks the inaugural kick-off block party on South Main Street. It will take place Friday night beginning at 6 p.m. at Mesquite Creek Outfitters. The event is free, but Ryan said $1 from every adult beverage sold would go towards the Rotary Club’s Polio Plus program, which helps eradicate the disease.
Ryan said the decision to make the rodeo a three-day event was to give folks the opportunity to enjoy the Independence Day weekend and to get people excited about the rodeo itself.
“July 5 is a federal holiday, so a number of folks will be off that day. We hadn’t had a kickoff party before, so we decided to team up with Mesquite Creek and have one there from 6 to 10 p.m. Clifton Castle is scheduled to perform and there will be food vendors and tables and chairs set up. We hope people want to come out and have a good time,” Ryan said.
In addition to the events, this year’s rodeo will also feature performances by the Concho Chicks Drill Team, which is a team of women who perform precision maneuvers while on horseback. Ryan added that the U.S. Air Force is also scheduled to conduct a flyover during the performance.
Pre-sale tickets end today. Tickets are available for $5 at Mesquite Creek Outfitters, Del Rio Feed & Supply, C&S Western Wear and Cowboy Johns. Persons under the age of 18 will get in for free. At the gate, tickets will be $10.
Gates open at 6:30 p.m., and the performances begin at 8 p.m.
“We should have a lot of folks helping out. We’re going to be busy, but it should be a fun time,” Ryan said. “We encourage people to come out and, of course, stay hydrated. We will have a full concession stand with lots for people to eat and drink. It’s a family friendly event and there will be plenty of things for people to enjoy.”
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Contact the author at drnhsports@gmail.com
