ENTERTAINMENT

Lasso some fun at Choteau’s Ranch Rodeo

Traci Rosenbaum trosenbaum@greatfallstribune.com
  • CHOTEAU RANCH RODEO
  • Saturday, Sept. 5 starting at noon
  • Choteau Rodeo Grounds, Choteau
  • Tickets: $5

Rodeo season has been going strong all summer long in Montana. As exciting as the riding and roping events can be, by this time fans might be looking for something a little different. That’s where the Choteau Ranch Rodeo comes in.

The event—held at the Choteau Rodeo Grounds—starts Saturday, Sept. 5 at noon with a Calcutta auction, and at 1 p.m., fans are in for a unique rodeo experience. In a pro rodeo, participants compete at roping and riding, but ranch rodeos allow working cowboys and cowgirls to show off practical skills used on real ranches every day.

Events include team penning, mugging, branding and trailer loading. Rodeo board director Lauren Long says the teams come from all over the state and the region, and men, women and kids as young as ten and eleven have competed in the past. Between events, kids get a shot at the candy bar race.

“We just take a bunch of candy bars and we dump them out in the arena,” said Long. “Then we break the kids into groups and let them run.” Long adds that they used to do a boot race but changed to candy bars because parents didn’t like the muddy socks.

Cow Camp Supply will be on hand selling quality leather goods, some of which will be donated to the live auction held during the rodeo. The proceeds go back into the community of Choteau in the form of a $500 cash scholarship to a graduating senior, support for the volunteer fire department and local EMTs and the Backpack Buddies program for low-income families.

Tickets are $5 and concessions are available, but Long says to bring your own cooler for adult beverages.

“It’s a great thing for the families for the end of the year,” said Long. “Harvest is done, haying is done, summer is over, so it’s a nice thing for these ranchers to wind down.”

THE ESSENTIALS

What: Choteau Ranch Rodeo

When: Saturday, Sept. 5 starting at noon

Where: Choteau Rodeo Grounds, Choteau

Cost: $5