Idaho’s oldest rodeo kicks off Wednesday night with free event – East Idaho News

IDAHO FALLS — It’s time to saddle up and put in your cowboy boots to observe bucking bulls and horses. Idaho Falls is celebrating a preferred and historic rodeo that kicks off with a free occasion Wednesday evening.

The Struggle Bonnet Spherical Up is in its 111th 12 months and is named the oldest rodeo in Idaho. Greater than 450 cowboys and cowgirls compete every summer season in entrance of greater than 15,000 rodeo spectators in the course of the first weekend of August.

The Struggle Bonnet Spherical Up will host the annual rodeo kickoff at Sandy Downs from 4:30 p.m. to eight:30 p.m. Wednesday. The occasion will embrace video games and free rodeo motion. 

“Final 12 months was the primary 12 months we moved the kickoff to Sandy Downs, which was an enormous success,” stated Idaho Falls Parks and Recreation Director PJ Holm in a information launch. “We love our rodeo followers and having this occasion is simply a good way to kick off the enjoyable and construct the thrill for what’s arguably the perfect rodeo in jap Idaho.”

There shall be meals distributors, pony rides, mini bucking bulls, bounce homes and extra at Wednesday’s occasion.

The primary rodeo occasions will start on Thursday and run by way of Saturday. Gates will open every evening at 4:30 p.m.

“I journey everywhere in the nation and this is without doubt one of the finest rodeos I’m going to. Followers find it irresistible. It’s an amazing present … we simply love coming right here,” stated Troy Heinert, a pickup man on the Struggle Bonnet Spherical Up.

Heinert’s job includes getting the riders off of a bucking horse and ensuring he escorts the animal out of the sector safely. He’s been doing it for about 12 years and used to experience bucking horses.

He has traveled to loads of completely different rodeos throughout the nation and makes positive the animals are taken care of.

“We’ll have about 100 animals right here for this week at this rodeo. It’s a must to watch and ensure there aren’t any accidents and that they’re wholesome,” he defined. “Within the morning, we be sure their water is full all day and hay within the evenings and ensuring they’re in the proper pen the place they’re presupposed to be. We do all of that earlier than we feed ourselves.”

“There shall be some horses right here that solely have one journey. They’ll arrive at Idaho Falls they usually’ll carry out one time after which they get to face within the again with their pals and get good hay and grain,” he stated.

Heinert is trying ahead to the rodeo.

“I feel my favourite half is correct earlier than we crack the gate on the very first horse. That’s the place I’m most excited,” he stated.

Tickets for Thursday and Friday are $20 and Saturday is $25. Army and veteran reductions can be found. Kids’s tickets for ages three to 10 are $10. Kids two and beneath are free.

Tickets can be found on-line and at native Struggle Bonnet Spherical Up ticket retailers, together with Teton Toyota, Vickers, Cal Ranch, Boot Barn and the Idaho Falls Recreation Middle. Click on right here for extra ticket info.