The Little Britches Rodeo of Wisconsin is sponsoring a clinic on Saturday, April 30 and Sunday, May 1 at the Crawford County Fairgrounds in Gays Mills. There will be basic instruction in timed rodeo events, which include barrel racing, pole bending, and girls and boys goat tying. The rough stock clinic on bull riding will be held on Saturday with bareback and saddle bronco riding featured on Sunday. Registration starts at 9 a.m. and the clinic will be getting underway at 10 a.m. both days.
The clinic is open to participant’s ages 6-18 and they do not need to be part of the Little Britches Rodeo of Wisconsin to participate. The cost for the event is $25 for an individual and $30 for a family. A negative 2016 Coggins test on any participating horses is required. No pre-registration is required, but each participant needs to bring a officially notarized registration form to the clinic. The form can be found on the Wisconsin Little Britches website under the membership tab.
The Ridge and Valley Rodeo will pay the clinic fee for any cowboy or cowgirl who has ever wanted to try rodeo events as long as they have never been members of the Little Britches Rodeo. The Club will also pay $25 toward the membership in the Little Britches of Wisconsin, which will enable them to participate in the May 7 and May 8 rodeos to be held at the fairgrounds.
“For anyone who is interested in rodeo, but didn’t know what or how to do it this would be the place to come,” said Ridge and Valley Rodeo president Terri Keeper.
The Little Britches Rodeo will see its eighteenth year in Gays Mills and promises plenty of excitement for the already action-packed Mothers Day weekend.
“This is our first (Little Britches) rodeo of the season and depending on the weather we usually get a pretty good turn out,” Ridge and Valley Rodeo Club Vice President Margaret Davidson said. The rodeo at the fairgrounds started 18 years ago, when parents of children who were older and already in Little Britches Rodeo decided that the Crawford County Fairgrounds would make a good home for an early season rodeo.
“Many of us already had kids in Little Britches and just said ‘Lets do it!’” Davidson said. The Ridge and Valley Rodeo Club started their relationship with the Little Britches, which has turned into not only an enjoyable time, but a good thing for the fairgrounds as well
“We’ve made several improvements at the fairgrounds,” Davidson noted. “And, the fair board has been so gracious to work with us. Some of the things we did included moving the arena from by the road to closer to the wooded area in the back, adding a small arena for bucking bulls, better bathrooms, and gaining the ability to own all of our own equipment.”
Held this year on Saturday, May 7 and Sunday, May 8 at the Crawford County Fairgrounds, the fun and excitement, kicks off at 11 a.m. and costs spectators $5 each day. The ever-favored wild and wooly mutton bustin’ for youngsters under six years of age will promise to entertain. Bull riding and other classic rodeo events will also thrill the crowds. Contestants will range in age from 6 to 18. Open barrel racing will also be held on Saturday night after the other performances.
North Crawford Wrestling Club will again serve lunches.
All are welcome to join the Ridge and Valley Rodeo Club and for those who would like more information about joining or how to participate in Ridge and Valley Rodeo or Little Britches Rodeo they can call President of Ridge and Valley Rodeo Terri Keeper at 608-606-3466 or Vice President Margret Davidson at 608-624-5235. To register for mutton busting individuals are encouraged to call Becky at 608-606-0097.
