Rodeo challenges riders, crowd to be 'Tough'

Number of entries up from last year

MOSES LAKE — Tough has a new color: Pink.

The first night of the Moses Lake Roundup Rodeo, Thursday, Aug. 17, will give riders and the community the chance to strut their stuff in pink and raise money for the Moses Lake Cancer Foundation at the same time through the "Tough Enough to Wear Pink" campaign.

Bright pink bandanas have been popping up around the Basin since the Cowboy Breakfast in McCosh Park last Friday. The bandanas are still available at Columbia Basin Quiltworks & Bernina, Sue's Shadow Box, Sterling Savings Bank, Animal World Veterinary Clinic or at the gate entrance to the rodeo. Each bandana is $2 with the proceeds going to raise awareness for breast cancer.

"It is a national program that was adopted by the PRCA last year," said Moses Lake Roundup Rodeo Association member Rob Weber. "This year we have teamed up the Moses Lake Cancer Foundation."

Wrangler is also a sponsor of the event on a national level. Anyone can purchase a pink shirt from Wrangler and know that a portion of the price paid will go to the American Breast Cancer Association.

"The important thing for people to know is that we are not the American Cancer Association," said Moses Lake Cancer Foundation executive director Jan DeBeaumont. "Money raised by Relay for Life does not stay in the community. Relay is a good thing but money raised locally (for the Moses Lake Cancer Foundation) goes 100 percent to the community."

DeBeaumont went on to stress that money raised through the "Tough Enough to Wear Pink" campaign will by applied to enhance the local breast cancer support group, provide education meetings and speakers and potentially be used to help fund a building that will eventually house DeBeaumont's office as well as conference and sitting rooms and a kitchen for those visiting cancer patients.

"We are trying hard to get out in the community," DeBeaumont said. "It's important to let people know that more and more women in the area are being diagnosed weekly with breast cancer."

The Roundup Rodeo will also feature the rough stock of Corey and Horst Rodeo Company in conjunction with Frank Beard Rodeo Company.

"There are several good animals — Hemi, Big Chill, 7 of Hearts — that are standing out right now," said Mike Corey of Corey and Horst Rodeo Company. "These animals are bred to buck. We've got some award winning animals, like 7 of Hearts, coming in."

Corey and Horst will also mix the rough stock horses from Frank Beard's company in with their own animals.

"It's a bigger rodeo this year and I've got a lot of confidence knowing Frank (Beard) is going to be there," Corey said.

Rodeo enthusiasts can see stock all three nights of the rodeo and also during Friday morning's slack performance.

"We've got the slack performance Friday, right after the cowboy breakfast," Weber said. "It's free to see."

This year's rodeo will also feature entertainment by Rodney "Shotgun" Gaston, a rodeo clown incorporating camels into his act, and the voice of the PRCA, Will Rassmussen. The Model T Pig Races will also be back for another year to entertain the crowd.

Roundup introduces the "Old Days of Wine and Rodeo" from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday for $15. The event will include a wine tasting area complete with 26 different wines and food for those in attendance. To purchase tickets for the event, a rodeo ticket must be purchased first.

The Last Chutte Gate beer garden will have a Mardi Gras theme this year with games to reflect the theme each evening.

"We get people calling the rodeo office to find out what games are going to be played that night," Weber said.

There will also be a fireworks display, sponsored by the Army National Guard, each night. Active military personnel with a valid military identification card will be granted free admittance to the rodeo all three nights.

"We have one of the best rodeos in the nation," said Weber.

The Moses Lake Roundup Rodeo kicks off Thursday with a pre-show beginning at 6:30 p.m. and runs through Saturday. There will be more than 400 cowboys and cowgirls competing in this year's rodeo. Tickets are $10 for general admission if purchased before the rodeo and $12 at the gate. Children six and under are given free admission. For more information about the rodeo, call (509) 765-6396 or visit the Web at www.moseslakeroundup.com.