After a very successful first run, Clinton Friesen is proud to let the community know that Bulls on the Border is back this coming August and he couldn't be more excited.
"It's our second year going, we started it last year," Friesen says with a smile. "It started in a hockey dressing room, it was just an idea, and we finally decided we'd do it last year. We didn't know how many people would come, but we just took a shot and did it, and it turned out to be a really good event."
The quality of bull riding coming for the show is top notch, according to Friesen. "It's BRC or Bull Riders Canada Tour. Richer, Manitoba is the next day, so we'll get a lot of the bull riders coming to our event, and then they'll go to Richer. Long round is, I think 24 bull riders, and then I think they bring back the top eight or ten for the short round, then it's winner takes all."
Friesen himself has loved rodeo for years. "I grew up always around horses, and stuff like that. At 13, I started riding junior bulls. From there, I just kept going with it, and started riding the big bulls. Always been in the rodeo lifestyle and around cattle, stuff like that. It's been neat to bring it to this corner of south western Manitoba, because there is nothing close to us with that, besides Virden indoor rodeo or Killarney spring rodeo. It's been nice to bring an event for everyone to see."
Being a rode kid at heart, Friesen cherishes the chance to bring local families closer to the action. "It's really good to see families. It's pretty crazy how many people that go to rodeo's don't get to be close to the action. This event, the arena is small, it's action packed, and you're right up to the fence getting to watch. The kids are so interested in it. The company we get, they put on a really good show, keeping people entertained, and involved. It's cool to see more kids get interested in watching it, and maybe down the road, maybe they'll want to try riding bulls, or something. It's really good and it keeps the rodeo lifestyle going."
Having it be the second annual event is all thanks to the community support, Friesen proudly explains. "The community support is phenomenal. The RM of Brenda-Waskada, they were just, right as I brought i up to them, because we're using their land beside the rink, as soon as I brought it up, they were all for it. The hard part was getting the sponsorship money to do it, and we started very last minute. With the help of another organization, Border Fest, they helped us out with the last bit of the money to make the event a go. The community support, the volunteers, the rodeo board, it's amazing. Around here, everyone helps everyone out, but this was mind blowing. We were banking on around 500 people, and we had 1000 show up. It was full and it just blew us away."
Bulls on the Border is quickly approaching, and Friesen shares all the details. "Our event is Thursday, August 7th. We have Smoked N' Sauced out of Brandon , and Poutine King. They'll also have a lemonade and ice cream stand. We're going to have food trucks, the daycare in Waskada is doing a kids fun zone, so there will be bouncy castles and things for the kids before the event kicks off. We'll have a Calcutta, so you can buy the bull riders or you can buy the bulls. Lots of stuff going on. We'll also have a 50/50, we'll have a bar, and a band playing after the event for a small social after."
More details can be found on the social media page: Waskada Bulls on the Border | Facebook