The Irricana and District Ag Society is saddling up to host its fourth annual Irricana Junior Rodeo on Sept. 9.
“Our goal is to get the kids involved,” explained Margaret Hagel, president of the Ag Society. “In the Irricana area there are a lot of kids that not only rodeo, but also who ride in the local gymkhana club. It gives them an opportunity to get in a little more competition with kids they wouldn’t normally ride against."
Hagel added one of the main missions of the local ag society was to promote more youth involvement in agriculture.
This year’s events will include traditional rodeo staples such as breakaway roping, barrel racing and steer riding, but also a whole selection of non-traditional, age-appropriate events designed to entertain and create enthusiasm for the sport of rodeo in younger participants. These exciting events include pole bending, goat tying, mutton busting, and a wild pony race.
Hagel said goat tying has become a popular event at many Junior Rodeos across Alberta.
“There is a goat tied at the far end of the arena, and the kids come in on their horses,” she explained. “They ride down the arena. They get off their horse, and flip the goat and tie it. It’s similar to calf-roping.”
According to Hagel, it is a timed event where the participant who can tip over and tie up the goat the fastest is the winner– that’s assuming the goat is willing to cooperate, of course, which isn’t always a given.
For the younger kids, she explained, they will try to untie a ribbon from the goat’s tail instead in the fastest time possible, without having to do any wrestling.
As with goat tying, for the mutton busting and wild pony race a lot depends on the cooperation, or lack thereof, of the animals involved, said Hagel.
“Last year, they were some pretty rank ponies,” she admitted. “There are three kids to a team, and the ponies have a halter and a shank. (The monitors) open the chute and let the ponies out … One of kids (with the help of his or her teammates), has to get on, and stay on for two jumps.”
For the younger kids 8-years-old and under, said Hagel, mutton busting is always an entertaining event for both the kids trying to ride a sheep across the arena, and for the spectators who come out just to watch the rodeo.
“It’s pretty entertaining,” she confirmed, “and it’s a free event for spectators.”
The Irricana Junior Rodeo is still accepting registration for participants up to the age of 12 until Aug. 26, but Hagel said the popularity of the annual gathering means a lot of the events are already full, or nearly full.
“It’s (especially) nice to see the age eight and under categories are also just about full,” she said. “That means there are lots of younger kids coming up that we can hopefully help them along the way.”
Hagel said besides the rodeo action on display in the Bev Macdonald Rodeo Grounds, spectators will also be able to buy food and beverages from the concession stand on site, peruse some of the goods being sold by local vendors, and meet the 2021 World Professional Chuckwagon Association Champion Obrey Motowylo, who hails from Hoadley, Alberta.
“He will be there with his wagon, talking to people, handing out posters, and stuff like that,” she explained.
Hagel wanted to encourage anyone who is free on Sept. 9 to come out to enjoy the Irricana Junior Rodeo.
“Come out and see the rodeo stars of the future in Irricana,” she said. “And I’d also like to thank the dedicated volunteers, generous sponsors, and, of course, the kids that make this a great event.”
