If bucking horses and bulls, flying sweat, and egg-baking sunshine are your cup-of-tea, the 2016 Blue Heron Fair Days rodeo may pique your interest.
Set to begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 13, Barrhead Agriculture Society president and recognized rodeo-commentator Randy Schmidt said a lot of the events that were big hits last year — sheep riding, boot race and the calf-scramble, are all included, along with more traditional events such as saddle-bronc and bullriding.
“There is going to be something for everyone,” Schmidt said, adding the rodeo organizers will be giving away a brand-new bicycle twice per day, on both Aug 13, and Aug. 14.
“Basically, the first kids who manage to pull ribbons off the cows involved in the scrambles, they will win the bikes,” he said. “We’ll also be having regular rodeo events with bull-riding to finish off the day, and that is always exciting.”
Along with rodeo-mainstay families like the Schmidts and Brandons, a Barrhead resident named Ryley Borris — currently ranked second in the bareback category of the Wild Rose Rodeo standings, will also be competing.
“It’s going to be a great rodeo, both days, especially considering we’ve got Miller Rodeo Company supplying bucking stock this year,” he said, adding some of the animals used in Barrhead’s rodeo will also participate in the finals in September.
“I hope everyone comes out and has a great time,” he added.
What to expect:
The Blue Heron Fair, beginning with a beef show in the Ag Barn, at 11 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 12, and the 25th annual demolition derby on the rodeo grounds, at 6 p.m., is back and will take place at the Barrhead Fair Grounds from Aug. 12 - 14.
Including events such as a horse show in the ag barn on Aug. 13 — beginning at 8 a.m., baseball tournaments (Slo-pitch and regular) on all days, free lazer tag, a petting zoo, pony rides, inflatable bouncers, face painters, caricaturists, as well as performances by Saskatchewan-based professional hypnotist Jesse Lewis (rodeo grounds) at 4 p.m., and Princess Elsa — scheduled to perform three times throughout the day in the Bablitz Exhibition Hall, are intended for all ages.
The Wildrose-sponsored rodeo, beginning at 1 p.m. on Aug. 13, will include regular rodeo events, as well as those designed specifically for children, in addition to cowboy church scheduled for 10 a.m., Aug. 14, in the exhibition hall.
In addition, the midway provided by Wild Rose Shows Inc., will be the first one in Barrhead since the early 1990s.
“We haven’t had a midway in forever,” Schmidt said, adding it was a nice set of circumstances that led to the midway’s inclusion in the fair this year.
“We could never get them [Wild Rose Shows Inc] because they were always booked at another location, so it is nice that we lucked out this time around,” he added.
While anyone under the age of five is free, admission for people aged 6 – 16 is $5 per day, or $10 per person for a weekend-pass, and $10 per day and $25 per person for a weekend-pass for those aged 17 and older.
A complete list of events, as well as registration forms and other information is available at the Barrhead Agricultural Society’s website at http://barrheadag.ca/events/barrhead-blue-heron-fair
