The Little Britches Rodeo delighted both young and old last Friday and Saturday at the High River Ag grounds.
Liz Ellwood, events coordinator and office manager with the High River Ag Society, was thrilled with how well it went.
"It was fantastic as ever. The support of the community means the absolute world to us with some new sponsors as well and plenty of competitors. 240 children came through as competitors in all of the events, which is just great."
The events ran the gamut from Barrel Racing, Pole Bending and Break Away Roping to the Pig Scramble, Mutton Bustin', and the Wild Pony Race to Goat Tying and Untying, to Team Roping and all all-ages Hobby Horse race at the end. Teens from 16 and under, all the way to the 7 and under enjoyed the day along with parents, grandparents, relatives and throngs of rodeo fans.
A new Rodeo Queen was also crowned.
"Well, on Friday night we said goodbye to our wonderful outgoing queen, Olivia Knight, who did such a sterling job for us, and we crowned Annie Fitzgerald. She's a very local rodeo girl and she's going to be just fantastic in representing us at all of the local rodeos. She'll be at Guy Weadick and the chuckwagons as well of course."
Ellwood was referencing the Guy Weadick Pro Rodeo, which starts on June 20, and then the Battle of the Foothills chuckwagons run the weekend of July 24-27.
With the popularity of the Hobby Horse race at the Little Britches Rodeo, they will continue with that as a staple from now on. Due to the overwhelming support of Mutton Bustin', they will also feature the event at this year's Guy Weadick Pro Rodeo.
"Oh yes, we had 63 competitors in Mutton Bustin' and they had so much fun. It was brilliant, and we're actually going to be doing Mutton Bustin' on the Sunday of Guy Weadick now. And on that Sunday, I'm also going to have a petting zoo, bouncy houses, and Cowboy Tex is coming in with balloon sculpting. All included in admission price. And on the Saturday, we are doing 'Tough Enough to Wear Pink'. So, come along, put that pink on, and we're going to be promoting awareness and fundraising for the community cancer care centre."
For results of the Little Britches Rodeo, click here.