Dust off the chaps, sharpen your spurs and get ready for some
rodeo fun.
Hollister – Dust off the chaps, sharpen your spurs and get ready for some rodeo fun.
The Saddle Horse Show and Rodeo, a San Benito County tradition since 1929, is galloping to the Bolado Park Fairgrounds June 24 to 26.
“The draw is it’s an event for San Benito County, it’s for county residents only,” said Charlie Tobias, president of the board of directors of the San Benito County Saddle Horse Association, which organizes the event. “It’s basically good family fun.”
The weekend-long event will kick off on June 24 with a western art and equipment show. Later that evening there will be a free wine and cheese reception and the rodeo begins at 7pm.
“It draws the community together,” said Ann Strickland, office manager for the Saddle Horse Association, adding that the rodeo’s 400 contestants are all San Benito residents.
The rodeo will include cattle roping, bull riding and many other events. Many people come each year to watch the figure 8 roping event, during which participants rope a cow with a special loop that goes around the animals head and front legs in one toss, Tobias said.
“I think the figure 8 roping is our signature event,” he said. “This area is traditionally known for it. We’re one of the few places that has this competition.”
If you miss the Friday night show, there are still plenty of chances to see the rodeo on June 25 and 26 at 1:30pm.
Based on past attendance, Strickland anticipates about 2,500 people to attend each show.
Admission for the Friday show is $7. The cost to get into the Saturday and Sunday events is $10.
But if you can’t wait until the end of the month to get your summer rodeo fix, the Miss San Benito Rodeo contest is on Saturday, during which hopeful young ladies from Hollister will compete to become Miss San Benito Rodeo 2005.
The free event will begin at 9am in the Blue Room at Bolado Park where the four contestants will be interviewed for poise and personality. Next they will go to the park’s grandstand arena to demonstrate their horsemanship skills.
The winner will represent the Saddle Horse Association at different rodeos and local community events for the next year, Tobias said.
Luke Roney covers politics and agriculture for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or at lr****@fr***********.com
