(File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Jeff D'Andrea

Let's Go to the Rodeo

High School Rodeo returning to Red River Roping and Riding club this fall

Jul 3, 2020 | 2:08 PM

The likelihood of having the Lakeland Ford High School Rodeo run this year was very much in doubt for most of the summer.

Its venue, the Red River Roping and Riding Arena, had to close its doors and cancel its programs at one point this year during the COVID-19 pandemic.

But as restrictions have been lifted across the province, the arena can have one of its biggest events of the year after all.

The high school rodeo will be going Sept. 5-6 and play host to some of the best high school rodeo cowboys and cowgirls throughout the province.

“It’s going to be fantastic,” said RRRR director Larry Henry. “We’re going to be the first [Saskatchewan] high school rodeo for the year 2020.”

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The glimmer of hope was shone when the province’s Re-Open Saskatchewan Plan included rodeos in their Phase 4.2 plans, with allowing “rodeo-related activities” to run starting on July 16.

Although Henry knows when and where the event will run, it’s the ‘how’ that is still being figured out.

There is a lot of time from now until the Labour Day weekend event to see how restrictions will be played out and what situation the province will be in.

“That part, we’re still not sure. That will change as we go,” Henry said about how the event itself will look like. “I think focus, I think the one big thing is we’ll have a very large turnout. Last year, we had 145 high school competitors that were registered.

“Because of COVID, we don’t know the details yet but we do know that we can go.”

Henry anticipates in running all events during the rodeo, and doesn’t expect to have to omit one due to COVID-19 safety concerns.

Since the beginning of June, RRRR has been able to open back up, along with restarting their summer camps and other events.

“I think we’re doing very well. Summer camps and getting some horses back. And we’re having a penning event on Aug. 8-9.”

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Jeff.dandrea@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @jeff_paNOW