Roundup-Fair combo tickets make events more affordable

MOSES LAKE — There are rodeo people. There are fair people and the demolition derby fans are a different breed of cat all together. But this year the Moses Lake Roundup and Grant County Fair will give everyone a little more bang for their buck with the introduction of the combo ticket.

Everybody’s interests are a little different, but one thing they can all agree on is more affordable pricing is a good thing.

The demolition derby starts things off on Aug. 17. The fair and rodeo run simultaneously Aug. 18-20. With the combo ticket, the purchase of a rodeo or demolition derby ticket also gets you into the fair. The move would save a family of four close to $40, Roundup treasurer Tyler Brown said.

“This is a really good deal. People don’t have to make a choice how to spend their money. They can do what they want, but this does give them the opportunity to do both,” Brown said. “The whole intent is to do the whole day and make it a family event. Instead of having to pick and choose on doing the rides, buying the corn dogs and that stuff and not being able to go to the rodeo. This way, they can do both as a family.”

The 73rd annual Moses Lake Roundup dates all the way back to 1943, featuring some of the best regional cowboys and cowgirls from the Columbia River Circuit. The Moses Lake Roundup won Small Rodeo of the Year in 2011, and Large Rodeo of the Year in 2013, but they are always looking to make it better, Brown said.

“Our attendance has grown year after year because we have entertainment outside the realm of the rodeo,” he said. “We still have the roughstock riders. We still have the ropers and all the traditional rodeo stuff. But when we started bringing in motorcycle riders that got our community more interested in what we do. They might come out because they want to see the motorcycle guys and decide rodeo is cool. So we offer something for everyone.”

Another thing they’re doing this year is throwing in some added money to the roughstock events to attract the top riders in the country. There will be $1,000 added money to the bull riding, bareback and saddle bronc purses on Thursday night and an added $2,000 per roughstock on Saturday night. Best score still wins, but added money should take the competition to another level.

“Historically, we have the three performances and we pay out the top six places,” Brown said. “This year, we’ve added some money and the best rides for that night will get paid that bonus money. By adding $2,000, the intent was to get the contestants here for Saturday night. We deal with a half a dozen other rodeos on the same weekend, so we’re trying to entice contestants to sign up for our Saturday night performance so we get the top riders.”

It’s rodeo time in the Northwest during the month of August with the Omak Stampede, the Moses Lake Roundup, the Horse Heaven Roundup in Kennewick, which are followed by the Ellensburg Rodeo and the Pendleton Roundup. A little extra goes a long way in bringing in the top hands to showcase for Columbia Basin rodeo fans.

Throw in freestyle motocross rider Cody Cavanaugh’s eye-popping stunts on both two-wheel and four-wheel motorcycles, barrel man Frankie “Punkintown” Smith, the demo derby and free admission to the Grant County Fair, and this promises to be a real family event to remember.