PENDLETON – The InterMountain Education Service District (IMESD) will host its annual Children’s Rodeo at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 12 in the Pendleton Round-Up Arena.
Sponsored by IMESD and the Pendleton Round-Up Association, the event gives children with special needs ages 5-10 the opportunity to be cowboys and cowgirls.
Students from IMESD’s component school districts in Baker, Morrow, Umatilla and Union counties are eligible to participate.
Approximately 50 rodeo participants will enjoy activities that include riding a horse, a horse-drawn buggy ride, barrel racing on stick ponies, “steer” roping, riding a pretend bull, milking a mock cow, Native American drumming and more. Participants will also be able to enjoy the theme of the day, “Tough Enough to Wear Pink.”Each participant will receive a T-shirt, cowboy hat, lariat, scarf and a photo with their cowboy/cowgirl volunteer.
Spectators are welcome at the Children’s Rodeo and admission is free, but spectators will need to purchase tickets to the regular Round-Up Rodeo later in the afternoon.
Dozens of volunteers including Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association members, local cowboys and cowgirls, IMESD volunteers, Round-Up volunteers and community members work to make the Children’s Rodeo a success each year.
“We are very excited to welcome our students and their families to the Children’s Rodeo again this year. It’s always wonderful to see the smiles and fun of the participants and spectators during this event,” said Jen Thul, IMESD Children’s Rodeo coordinator.
For more information, visit https://www.imesd.k12.or.us/o/imesd/page/children-s-rodeo or call Thul at 541-966-3223 or email jen.thul@imesd.k12.or.us.
