The Sawtooth Rangers Riding Club has been staging the Days of the Old West rodeo since 1948—and the Rangers are gearing up for another ride around the arena in 2009.
Advance tickets are now on sale.
The 2009 Days of the Old West rodeo at Hailey Rodeo Arena is set for Thursday through Saturday, July 2-4. Pre-rodeo events begin at 7:00 p.m. nightly for the early comers with the rodeo itself at 7:30 p.m.
It's an Idaho Cowboys Association (ICA) and Intermountain Professional Rodeo Association (ImPRA) event. Plenty of "Cowboy Christmas" competitors will drive up to Hailey where they'll compete in front of the packed holiday houses, watch pretty girls and hear the usual bad jokes.
Give them a pat on the back. It's a long summer. Hailey is the sixth of 24 ImPRA rodeos starting June 5-6 at Green River, Wyo. and wrapping up with the Sept. 7-8 IMPRA finals.
The 62nd annual Days of the Old West rodeo will resemble the last several years, when the Sawtooth Rangers delighted the families and rodeo fans with events like mutton bustin' for the younger crowd.
All you need is parental approval—and to be no more than 45 pounds in weight—to join the fun for the nightly mutton bustin'. All the participants get ribbons and there are silver dollars at stake as well.
The 28th annual Hometown Bullriding competition will be the first official rodeo event of each show. Entry fee is $25 for each daredevil. At stake is a silver belt buckle for the winning rider each night.
You can sign up in advance for the special events, both hometown bulls and mutton bustin', by calling Madeline Amend at 788-4979 or 720-4534. Participants are limited.
The Wood River Lions Club will again provide food and beverages at the arena. No coolers are allowed.
Rodeo tickets are available at Atkinsons' Markets in Ketchum, Hailey and Bellevue, or at the gate. General admission tickets remain the same, $10 adults and $5 for kids ages 2-12. Reserved seating is $15.
Visit the Hailey Chamber of Commerce Web site, haileyidaho.com to download ticket order forms. You can also buy tickets in person at the Hailey Chamber office, or call Lorna Hazelton at 788-1012.
The evening rodeo on Thursday, July 2 is "Family Night," which means kids 12-and-under are free with a paying adult. Children's tickets that night can be picked up at the Rodeo Grounds ticket booths just prior to the night's performance.
Heading up the Sawtooth Rangers is president Bill Bobbitt. Bud Amend is the arena director, replacing Ted Uhrig. Trent Shoemaker is also on the rodeo committee. Lorna Hazelton is in charge of tickets, Shelley Shoemaker the sponsorships and Michelle Bobbitt the queen contest.
