Rodeo mixes new and traditional entertainment

Model-T pig races arrive from Tillamook, Ore.

MOSES LAKE — A bit of new style mixes with the old traditions of the Moses Lake Roundup Rodeo starting Thursday.

The new style will show itself in the fashion of Model-T pig races, a bigger fireworks show and two barrel men performing for the crowds pleasure.

Old tradition shows itself in the form of quality stock and riders.

"We've had good stocks and contestants for about 15 years," said Tim Voelz, vice president of the Columbia Basin Rodeo Association.

Voelz and the president of the CBRA Doug Rathbone agree it is no secret that good stock and good riders go hand in hand.

They also say perhaps the most important part of a rodeo is the entertainment spread throughout the event.

For almost eight years, the rodeo association has been searching to find a replacement for the Calgary Chuck Wagons. Then a member of the board mentioned his uncle was one of the founders of the Model-T pig races down in Tillamook, Ore.

Voelz and Rathbone used the connection to secure the races appearance at the Grant County Fair.

In a Model-T pig race five contestants will have to grab a pig from the pen and while holding it under arm they will crank start the car, get in and drive a lap. Keeping the pig under their arm the entire time.

After one lap they stop switch pigs and start the process over again.

Crowds delight at the calamity of errors a Model-T pig race can become.

This performance from the Model-T pig racers is the first one ever outside of Oregon.

The next two items for entertainment are not new but they are bigger this year. Last year was the first time the CBRA used fireworks at their show. They doubled their budget for the event.

A boom will signal the start of the rodeo at 7:30 p.m. Then, before the bull riding takes place and because it is dark enough to enjoy the real fireworks show will begin.

In the midst of all the pig racing, horse riding, roping, fireworks and bull riding the crowd will get a chance to see something very few, if any, rodeo crowds ever see. Two barrel men.

Voelz and Rathbone are thrilled to have Troy Wheeler, known at "wild child", and Cash Cooper. They are two of the top barrel men on any rodeo circuit.

Cooper, a native of Canada, has worked the Canadian national finals before.

The action starts at 6:30 p.m. with the Model-T pig races.

After the races the 4H grand entry takes place.

At 7:30 p.m. the rodeo begins with the big boom, followed by, in order, Bareback, calf roping, steer wrestling, saddle bronc, team roping, women's barrel racing, more fireworks and finished with the grand finale of bull riding.

Families can anticipate the show lasting till about 10 p.m.

"We try to keep everything moving along," Rathbone said. "We will intersperse events with the clown act and barrel men."

A little known feature of the rodeo is the slack riding that takes place Friday at 8 a.m.

It is bull riding comprised of contestants which did not make it into the main show. It is free to the public.

It takes one year to organize the rodeo, get sponsors involved, sign contracts for stock and entertainment and decide what did or did not work at the previous rodeo.

It all culminates in the three day even taking place at the Grant County Fair Grounds this week.

The favorite part for Voelz is when someone has never been to a rodeo but fall in love them after their first one. Rathbone's favorite is making kids fans.

"If you make a kid a rodeo fan," Rathbone said. "You make a rodeo fan for life."