KIKINO - It was a muddy but enjoyable affair for both the competitors and the cheering crowd of over 1,000 people that came to the Kikino Métis Settlement from Aug.18-20 for the 33rd annual Silver Birch Rodeo and Celebration Days.
Heavy rain that fell throughout the area on Friday turned the rodeo grounds into a muddy bog for last Saturday’s events, which featured several categories of competition, including saddle bronc, steer wrestling, team roping, tie down roping, local cow riding, and the highlight of the rodeo, bull riding.
The halftime show featured plenty of amusements, including trick riding demonstrations, music, and those iconic, colourful, and hilarious rodeo clowns, who made appearances throughout the day. While some of the rodeo stars who participated in the competition were from the area, many others hailed from across Alberta as well as Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
The wet and wild weekend also featured a talent show along with chuckwagon and chariot races. Celebration Days visitors also took in the long-running tradition of the Kikino team relay races.
First place winners for the 33rd annual Silver Birch Rodeo includes:
Bareback: Colton Oulette on One Cord, Score: 73
Saddlebronc: Jaret Cooper on Mama Tried, Score: 77.5
Bullriding: Braxton Rowe, Score: 75
Tie Down Roping: Chase Butterfield, Time: 10.3
Steer Wrestling: Wade Jober, Time: 4.8
Team roping: Cole Schmidt and David Schmidt, Time: 5.2
Junior bull riding: Nash Loewen, Score: 72.5
Novice horse: Denten Skjonsberg, on Little Pistol, Score: 70.5
Junior Steers: Ryder Toplinski, Score: 71
