By TIFFANY JEHOREK
Special to the Herald Times
MEEKER | Thursday rodeos are back for another season in Meeker. The Meeker Summer Rodeo Series kicks off at 7 p.m. at the Rio Blanco County Fairgrounds and will continue from June 7 until Aug. 30, with the exception of July 5.
“We are fortunate to bring back a summer-long, weekly event to our community for the second time in history,” said Mayor Regas Halandras. Previous participants Cody Edinger, Joe Wood and Travis Anderson were able to use the 2017 rodeos as practice versus the “ropings” that occur in home arenas and were able to win in Las Vegas, Nev.
Halandras commented that “local youth have been able to try out the different rodeo events and some have used it as a “stepping stone to do more rodeoing.”
Each Thursday there will be 12 events, beginning with ranch bronc, ending with bull riding and mutton bustin’ in the middle; a full list of events can be found on their Facebook page. The primary sponsors for the rodeo are Ariat, Mountain Valley Bank and Moody Construction and Sons, Inc.. This year the Meeker Arts and Cultural Center has put together an effort for beer sales to support MACC and concession stands on site to support local 4-H, the eighth grade Washington, D.C. trip and FFA.
“The benefit to the local youth groups, and local action groups, inclusion of youth in the rodeo; all comes together making this rodeo series better by making it community-centric,” commented Halandras. The first rodeo of the season will be held on June 7.
Participant entry line number is 970-274-3944 on Tuesdays from 6-8 p.m.
