2024 PRCA Rodeos for Washington, Oregon and Idaho

MOSES LAKE – As the summer comes around, contestants around the country will travel to upcoming rodeos throughout the region.

‘A step back in time’

Washington’s oldest rodeo is June 7-9

BICKLETON — Out in the wheat country of eastern Klickitat County, time sort of stands still. The little town of Bickleton, population 92 at the last census, is home to a couple of Washington’s most time-honored institutions. The Bluebird Inn, established in 1887, has a good claim to be Washington’s oldest tavern. The Herschel-Spillman carousel at the Bickleton Carousel Museum is one of fewer than 10 still operating. And the Alder Creek Pioneer Association is host every June to the state’s oldest rodeo.

Moses Lake Roundup begins Thursday

MOSES LAKE — The 81st Moses Lake Roundup Rodeo begins Thursday and there’s no shortage of riders. “We had a record number of contestant entries this year, 583, which is probably close to 60, 70 more than we had last year,” said Tyler Brown, treasurer of the Moses Lake Roundup Board. The rodeo follows the Agri-Service Demo Derby, which is happening today and tomorrow in the rodeo grounds at the Grant County Fairgrounds. Information on the Demo Derby and the Grant County Fair is in the Monday edition of the Columbia Basin Herald.

Last Stand Rodeo brings in thousands for 72nd annual event

COULEE CITY – The Coulee City Rodeo Association hosted the 72nd annual Last Stand Rodeo over Memorial Day weekend, featuring a range of competitions and events at the Coulee City Fairgrounds and around town. Pete Thiry, who has served as the CCRA’s president for almost 20 years, said the event was a success.

BRAND new thing

MOSES LAKE - Moses Lake Roundup Committee Member Buck Naff, left, burns a brand into a barrel of the rodeo’s new signature whiskey, Spurstride Wheated Bourbon, at the Loading Chute at the rodeo grounds Tuesday, accompanied by fellow Committee member Joe Ketterer and state Rep. Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake. Spurstride, distilled especially for the Moses Lake Roundup by Moses Lake Distillery, was served to the public for the first time at the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce’s Business After Hours following the branding.

Queen Kaylee

Ephrata graduate named Moses Lake Rodeo Queen

EPHRATA — There’s a new queen in Moses Lake, and she’s got Ephrata roots. Kaylee Stump, 20, of Ephrata was named the 2025 Miss Moses Lake Roundup in November. Stump, the daughter of Mike and Miranda Stump, is a 2022 graduate of Ephrata High School. Her coronation will be March 29, said Moses Lake Roundup Rodeo Board Member Amanda Miller.

Spirit of the rodeo

Moses Lake Roundup to unveil signature whiskey

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Roundup Rodeo and Moses Lake Distillery will debut Spurstride, the rodeo’s official signature whiskey, tomorrow at Business After Hours at the Grant County Fairgrounds.

GALLERY: 2024 Moses Lake Roundup

MOSES LAKE — Contestants from around the country and beyond traveled to Moses Lake for the 2024 Moses Lake Roundup, a three-day rodeo held at the Grant County Fairgrounds. Check out Tuesday’s edition of the Columbia Basin Herald for full coverage of the rodeo.

Basin events for May 11-19

COLUMBIA BASIN — Here are a few things to do in the Basin this week. This listing is noncomprehensive and event details may change or events may be canceled at the organizers’ discretion. Readers are encouraged to call ahead or verify the information below online prior to the event.

Bulls, broncs and biscuits

Cowboy Breakfast kicks off fair week Friday

MOSES LAKE — The Grant County Fair is a big deal in Grant County, and it’s only fitting that it should have a proper introduction. That happens the Friday before the fair, which this year is Aug. 9. The breakfast, hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Moses Lake, will be from 7 to 10 a.m. at Sinkiuse Square next to the post office. “A lot of people who work in Moses Lake come and eat before they go to work,” said Dayna Dent, who’s coordinated the breakfast for the Kiwanis for the last three years.

PRCA Last Stand Rodeo results

COULEE CITY – The Coulee City PRCA Last Stand Rodeo finished up Sunday evening at the Coulee City Fairgrounds, with a total payoff of $$52,802. Events included bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc, tie-down roping, barrel racing, steer roping and bull riding.

GALLERY: Moses Lake Roundup 2024

MOSES LAKE – The Moses Lake Roundup has come and gone, but the rodeo left plenty of memorable performances for spectators to remember.

Harvey Raymond Ruff

April 20, 1944 – May 13, 2024

The family of Harvey Raymond Ruff, 80, of Warden, Washington is saddened to announce his passing on May 13, 2024. He was born April 20, 1944, to Raymond and Hilda Ruff in Ritzville, Washington and was the older brother to his sister, Bonnie. Harvey was raised on a dryland wheat farm in Ruff; his love for farming and agriculture carried throughout his life. After graduating high school and Big Bend Community College, he married Barbara Gail. They had two daughters, Lori and Lisa, and he started his own farm raising wheat, hay and peas. He left the farm and became the manager for Brotherton Seed Company for 46 years before retiring. Harvey was a 4-H leader; he loved sharing his knowledge and skills with the youth in his community. He started raising sheep to ensure the best stock for his daughters and other 4-H members. Harvey spent a great deal of time, yearly, at the Grant County Fair supporting the 4-H and FFA organizations plus enjoying the rodeos.

New high in entries at Moses Lake Roundup

MOSES LAKE — Nearly 600 entries were made into the 81st Moses Lake Roundup, marking a new high in both contestants throughout the weekend of competition.

Roaring good time

Agri-Service Demo Derby and motorcycle barrel racing draws enthusiastic crowd

MOSES LAKE — There’s something very American about a demolition derby: only a country as obsessed with cars as ours would make a sport out of destroying them. It’s a game of high-speed bumper cars played with tons of metal, roaring engines and flying dirt making the air – and sometimes the audience – as gritty as a spaghetti western.

CBBRC to host Patriot Fall Classic Race

MOSES LAKE – The Columbia Basin Barrel Racing Club will host its third classic race of the year early next month, with the Patriot Fall Classic Race coming to the Ardell Pavilion at the Grant County Fairgrounds.

Basin Events for the week of Jan. 24-Feb. 1

COLUMBIA BASIN — It’s cold outside, but fortunately most of what’s happening this week takes place indoors. Here are a few possibilities:

Eunice Mae Carpenter

Eunice (born Unas) Mae Carpenter, 95, passed away Sunday, April 14, 2024. She remained in her home of 65 years until the day of her death. Eunice was born in 1929 in Crystal, North Dakota. She was the firstborn of her mother Maggie and father Albert Springsted. Eunice spent her summers painting interiors and exteriors with her father in his painting business and working in the family gardens and farms. She often told the story of being on a runaway horse and buggy ride back in the North Dakota farmlands. Being almost six feet tall, she was a star basketball player throughout her youth. Paul met Eunice when he was on leave from the army and driving a potato truck through a field where she was picking potatoes in in North Dakota. She was a stunning beauty. Eunice was feisty until the end, living up to a dear neighbor friend’s nickname given her years before, Tiger. She was a caring and ever-present mother and grandmother. For many years she hosted large family holiday dinners and summer gatherings and was well known as a fabulous cook. Eunice was firm in her faith, daily praying for family and friends.

Agri-Service Demo Derby begins Tuesday

MOSES LAKE — The engines will roar, the dirt will fly and a whole lot of metal will go crunch Tuesday and Wednesday at the Agri-Service Demo Derby, held at the Moses Lake Roundup Rodeo grounds at the Grant County Fairgrounds.

Grant Co. Fairgrounds getting upgrades

Incoming improvements set to improve safety, visibility and visitor experience.

MOSES LAKE – The Grant County Fairgrounds is installing around $1 million in upgrades, according to Fairgrounds Director Jim McKiernan. The upgrades include new light towers and lighting at gates, additional cameras, a new public address system, improved fencing, removing track from the rodeo grounds, new bleachers for the rodeo and power and water stalls. There will also be increased policing staff at the fairgrounds this year. “A lot of our efforts, as far as capital projects are having to do with safety this year as a result of last year's shooting,” McKiernan said.