By Cindy Hamar
For The New Era
After 13 years without a local Sweet Home rodeo, cowboys and cowgirls will bring their riding and roping skills back to town for one day Saturday, Aug. 16.
The Longhorn Productions rodeo “Hell on Hooves” Roughstock Rodeo Tour will take place from noon to 10 p.m. at the Rodeo Fairgrounds located at 4100 Long St. The event is sponsored by O & M Point S Tire and Auto Service.
— File Photo
Sweet Home Rodeo and Events Board members – McKenzie Reynolds, Erin Barstad, Jeana Doll, Tom Lewison and Sarita Smith – want it to be an opportunity for fundraising and local vendors while providing a fun family event.
The Hell on Hooves tour is produced by Oregon-based Wild West Events, which has put on rodeos at various area fairs, including Linn County’s, and in Creswell in the last month. The shows are announced by rodeo legend Wayne White, who also performed behind the mic in Sweet Home’s rodeos of the past.
Rodeo in Sweet Home began with the Calapooia Roundup in 1917, which ran into the mid-1950s. It was revived by Sportsman’s Holiday organizers in 1983, taking place behind the high school before eventually moving to the current Long Street location. By 2012, however, after 29 successful rodeo events in Sweet Home, what by then was being called the Sweet Home Rodeo hung up its chaps because organizers were unable to secure the $35,000 cost for the event.
Reynolds, who is leading the effort, said she’s missed it.
“The whole reason I wanted to get it started was I wanted to have something for my kids to go to in summertime, to wrap up summer,” she said. “4H, that stuff, was a big part of my life.”
Gates will open at noon for a petting zoo and a kids corner that will include face painting and carnival rides, as well as food and drink and merchandise available from vendors.
A mutton bustin’ competition will be held at 2 p.m. for the first 40 entries who sign up. Sign-ups will be on-site.
The rodeo begins at 6 p.m.
It will feature bronc riding, barrel racing, bull riding and appearances and performances by the Canyon Rider Drill and Flag Team, as well as another mutton bustin’ competition.
Also, eight entries for an invitational locals-only barrel racing competition will be held. Riders must be aged 16 or older. Information is available on Facebook or by contacting Reynolds at (541) 409-2703 or emailing the rodeo at [email protected].
An after party begins at 8:30 p.m. and runs till 10 p.m., with live music by Trevor Tagle, food and drinks. Cost is $15.
“We wanted to put the rodeo on for a community and have it be an opportunity to raise money,” Reynolds said. “In the future I would love to add a youth rodeo.”
Rodeo ticket prices are $14 for ages 3-13, $25 for attendees over 14; and $150 for VIP tickets, which include parking, VIP seating, dinner, a private bar and bathrooms.
— Scott Swanson contributed to this article.