The bulls will be bucking at the 50th Annual Kinsmen Rodeo later this month in North Battleford. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Martin Martinson

Rodeo Returns

50 years: Kinsmen Indoor Rodeo readies for milestone celebration

Apr 20, 2022 | 5:09 PM

From bucking broncos to bull fighting and barrel racing, the Access Communications Centre will be abuzz next weekend for the Kinsmen Club of the Battlefords’ 50^th Annual Indoor Rodeo.

Taking place April 29 to May 1, this year’s event will be the first since the pandemic began, causing the cancellation of both the 2020 and 2021 rodeo shows.

Long-time committee member, Heath Gabruch said the rodeo’s return culminating with their 50^th anniversary makes for an extra air of excitement around this year’s event.

“The response from sponsors and people in the community is that it’s really something I think everyone is looking forward to, so we’re quite excited,” he said. “Fifty years was a milestone we wanted to see through and the community’s obviously been very supportive of this event to have us hit the milestone. We’ve been waiting to celebrate 50 years of the indoor rodeo for a few years now.”

Gabruch said they will be adding a few special twists this year, in honour of the 50^th Anniversary, including an HD screen for replays, and a couple of newer events in addition to the classics.

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Along with staples such as roughstock saddle bronc, bull riding, lady’s barrel racing and junior events, Friday and Saturday night there will also be a freestyle bull fighting event among the new items, featuring three bull fighters and three bulls.

“That’s a new event this year that we’re bringing in that’s obviously a crowd favorite to get everybody excited,” Gabruch said.

With anywhere from 5,000 to 6,000 people expected to attend the event again this year, Saturday night will also be ‘Kid’s Night’ with free admission for children at the door, something – along with the youth events – Gabruch said is important for the future of the rodeo for years to come.

“The kids are important to bring them through the ranks,” he said. “So the kids will be let in for free Saturday night and we’ll have some souvenir t-shirts and mementoes we’ll be giving out, and hopefully they enjoy that.”

Friday and Saturday night there will also be a DJ in the upper auditorium playing music following the night’s activities. All tickets for the 50^th Annual Indoor Rodeo will available at the door.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1