When the calendar was turned to July last week, that only means it’s getting close to rodeo time in Sequoyah County.
The 53rd annual Garrison Creek Riders Rodeo will be July 18-19 at Garrison Creek Arena, located between Muldrow and Roland on U.S. 64.
The event has now been named the CRRA Rodeo of the Year for the 15th time.
Since entries are not going officially to begin being processed until July 14, Garrison Creek Riders Rodeo Organizer Wesley White said there’s not much happening right now.
“Right now, we’re not seeing much of anything because the official signup doesn’t start until July 14, the Monday before the rodeo,” White said.
White believed that the 52nd edition of the event went off without a hitch last year.
“It was a pretty good rodeo,” he said. “Everything went pretty smoothly. There weren’t too many hiccups.”
Another thing that went in favor of last year’s event was how Mother Nature cooperated by providing cooler temperatures.
“It just so happened that it cooled off that weekend,” White said. “It wasn’t as hot as it normally is at that time. I’m hoping the weather will cooperate that way this year. We have had it when it’s been 105 degrees. That’s not any fun.”
Admission will be $10 for adults ages 13 and older, $5 for ages 6-12 and ages 6 and younger are free.
Each night, action will begin at 7:30 p.m. with mutton busting with entries costing $20 per participant, followed by all the other regular events beginning at 8 p.m. with bareback riding, steer wrestling, calf roping, ladies breakaway, barrel racing, France bronc riding, bull riding, team roping and saddle bronc riding.
After the Saturday card, the Libby Starks Band will give a performance.
“We just want to tell everybody to come out and see us,” White said. “This is the best ‘Little Rodeo’ in the area, so bring the family and enjoy the show.”
There is still time for rodeo participants to enter this year’s event by calling either White at (918) 315-8430 or Chris Squires at (479) 652359. The deadline to enter is July 14.
For additional information, check out the Garrison Creek Riders’ Facebook page.
