Today and tomorrow at the fairgrounds in Lakeport, Rodeo gates open at 5 pm Friday and Saturday with youngsters having their chance at winning a silver buckle and $75 in cash. The first contest at 6 pm is the Cutest Cowpoke Competition open to boys and girls ages 3 to 8 years. There is no entry fee and there is no limit to how many children can enter. Winners, one boy and one girl will each be awarded a silver buckle and a cash prize of $75. Next will be the exciting Mutton Bustin competition with 10 youngsters ages 4 to 8 years, entered each evening. The winner each night will receive a silver buckle and a cash prize of $75.
Sometime during the evening each night, youngsters in the grandstands will be called into the arena for the ‘Boot Race’ where they will leave their boots and shoes at one end of the arena. They will then go to the ‘starting line’ where they will be given the ‘go’ signal to race to find their shoes/boots, The first one back to the starting line will be awarded a cash prize.
7 pm each night is the opening of the CCPRA sanctioned professional rodeo with the Grand Entry during which the 2021 Grand Marshal, Bob Anton will enter the arena on a wagon drawn by beautiful Percheron horses. Bob just turned 101 on July 3rd and is joined by several family members on this occasion. A sight to behold is all the CCPRA competitors being led into the arena by the Clear Lake Junior Horsemen Drill Team.
Announcer Ted Dwyer returns this year to lead us all through the excitement of a professional rodeo. He announces several rodeos each year and is remarkably familiar with most of the competitors, sharing information about them with the crowd.
In addition to the professional rodeo events, there will also be Local Barrel Racing both evenings with the ultimate best time winner being announced on Saturday. In addition to cash prizes, the winner will be awarded a silver buckle. Local Team Roping happens Saturday evening with the winning team members each receiving a set of silver spurs.
The 91st Annual Rodeo is presented by the Lake County Rodeo Association and Major Sponsors: ROTARY CLUB OF LAKEPORT, HARDESTER’S MARKET, LAKE COUNTY TRIBAL HEALTH, MAZZEI MOTORS and Calpine Corporation. Lake County’s own Clear Lake Junior Horsemen’s Drill Team performs each night!
An added treat this year is the Coppertown Clown Bert Davis and his famous dog act, the only animal act in America’s Got Talent to make it to the Las Vegas competition. Guaranteed to entertain you with all their canine antics.
The Rodeo Association is pleased to announce the National Anthem will be sung each night by Sophia Claire, a Nashville recording artist. Sophia is the niece of Lake County Rodeo Director Lou Riccardi.
Additional community sponsors include Lake County Deputy Sheriffs Association, Lakeport Grocery Outlet, Rainbow Ag Lakeport & Middletown, Westgate Petroleum, Lake County Record-Bee, Clear Lake Junior Horsemen, Scotts Valley 4H, Gene Kirkendall, Slaight Heavy Haul, R.B. Peters Trucking, Bicoastal Media, Strohmeier’s Auto Center, Upper Lake Grocery, Northern Industrial Construction, North Coast Barns & Corrals, Viet Nam Veterans, TRC Heating & Air Conditioning, Mendo Mill, Kevin Smith Construction and the Lake County Chamber of Commerce.
REMEMBER kids 6 and under are FREE when accompanied by a paid adult. Youth ages 7 to 12 are $10, ages 13 and older are $15/each. Pre-sale tickets are available in Middletown at Koontz Design, Rainbow Ag in Middletown, Barreda’s Lower Lake Feed and Pasquinelli’s in Lower Lake, RB Peters, Rainbow Ag, West Lake Auto and Lake County Chamber in Lakeport, in Upper Lake at Upper Lake Grocery. Pre-sale tickets for Saturday are youth $8 and 13 and older are $13. For ticket information call 489-8652.
