By Kathy Feist
Each year, Saddle & Sirloin’s Ranch Rodeo draws a larger crowd of spectators to its ranch rodeo. Last year, the indoor arena was filled to capacity. This year’s rodeo promises the same.
The popular Saddle & Sirloin Club’s Ranch Rodeo will be held Saturday, April 29, starting at 2 pm at 14401 Holmes Rd. Because seating capacity is limited, gates will open at 12:30 pm and close at 2:15. “We are expecting record crowds this year,” says Leslie Dunn, an organizer for the event. “So plan to arrive early!”
Ten world-class cowboy teams from working ranches in the Kansas and Oklahoma region will compete in several fast-paced events. The contests mimic real ranch hand experiences.
Competitions include team penning, trailer loading, stray gathering, and wild cow milking. Women will compete in barrel racing and breakaway roping.
Winners are judged on how quickly they can sort out a given number of calves from a herd (stray gathering), chase and rope a calf and load it into a trailer (trailer loading) and drive cattle from one end of the pen to the other (team penning) as well as roping and milking a wild heifer (cow milking).
The Saddle & Sirloin Mounted Patrol, which has performed at the American Royal, Topeka Equifest and numerous local parades, will open the event with a flag routine choreographed to music.
The event will be held rain or shine in the property’s covered arena.
The rodeo is open to the public. Tickets are $15 per adult, which includes parking. Children under 10 years of age are free.