52nd Garrison Creek Riders Rodeo is July 19-20

When July hits, you know it’s getting almost time for it.

The 52nd annual Garrison Creek Riders Rodeo will take place July 1920 at the Garrison Creek Riders Rodeo Arena, located three miles west of Roland, or a mile east of Muldrow, on U.S. 64.

“We’ve been working hard on it,” Garrison Creek Riders Rodeo Organizer Wesley White said. “We’ve painted all the bleachers and all the arena. We put new bleacher boards up.”

Admission will be $10 for adults ages 13 and older, $5 for ages 6-12 and ages 6 and younger are free.

Each night, action will begin at 7:30 p.m. with mutton busting, followed by all the other regular events beginning at 8 p.m. with bareback riding, steer wrestling, calf roping, barrel racing, junior barrels, bull riding, team roping, saddle bronc riding, ladies breakaway roping and ranch bronc riding.

White said he’s expecting the usual 350 to 370 participates this year.

“We just want to tell everybody to come out and see us,” he said. “This is the best ‘Little Rodeo’ in the area, so bring the family and enjoy the show.”

Just as a year ago, there will be a dance at the end of the final night of action, with The Libby Starks Band performing.

“They’re still going to be there,” White said.

For the 16th time, the “Little Rodeo” earned another “Rodeo of the Year” award, which is bestowed from the Cowboy Regional Rodeo Association (CRRA).

In fact, White said he believed last year’s event was one of the best ever.

“They were all really good events, and it was one of the best rodeos we’ve had in a while since COVID,” he said. “The year of COVID, I was the only one who had a rodeo — everyone else canceled. We had a record turnout that year. They were ready to get out of the house and go.”

White said there are three different governing bodies involved in this annual event — CRRA, the American Cowboys Rodeo Association (ACRA) and American Roughstock Association (ARA).

The importance of the sponsors each year is crucial to the success of the event.

“We’ve got to have that sponsor money,” White said. “They’re all wonderful people. We’ve had several (sponsors) stay with me. We lost a couple of sponsors, but we gained a couple this year.”

White said that the longevity of this annual event goes back to all the organization’s staff.

“I’ve got some really good people working now,” White said. “I’m proud of every one of them.”

Last year, there was a high threat of rain, which did not happen. However, it would appear as if White and staff will need to get ready for heat-related issues.

“One year, we had a tornado come and blow the back of the bleachers off,” White said. “We had to go in and weld those all back up before the rodeo. There’s always something. I just hope it’s not 100 to 110 (degrees) so it will cool off in the evenings. A lot of people don’t come out when it’s that hot. We’ll have a tent set up with fans and all that if they need them.”

There is still time for rodeo participants to enter this year’s event by calling either White at (918) 315-8430 or Mike Howard at (918) 461-6523. The deadline to enter is July 15.

For additional information, check out the Garrison Creek Riders’ Facebook page.

• • •

51ST GARRISON CREEK RIDERS RODEO RESULTS

BAREBACK BRONC RIDING

1. Brad Gower, $678.60.

BULL RIDING

1. Bryson Cunningham, $490.88; 2. Dason James, $368.16; 3. Jaden Karnes, $245.44; 4. Chelse Day, $122.72.

SADDLE BRONC RIDING

1. R.J. Smith, $594.20.

TIE-DOWN ROPING

1. (tie) Ben Walker and Riley O’Rourke, $490.13 each; 3. Ken Bailey, $321.40; 4. Kade Williams, $208.91; 5. Jonathan Isaacs, $96.42.

STEER WRESTLING

1. Hunter Washburn, $550.30; 2. Ricky Rice, $330.18; 3. Jaedyn Winters, $220.12.

COWGIRL BARREL RACING

1. Stephanie Joyner, $638.88; 2. Yolanda Caldwell, $505.78; 3. Rebecca Toon, $425.92; 4. Darby Duncan, $346.06; 5. Savannah Toon, $266.20; 6. Jayla Fudge, $212.96; 7. Shelby Hicks, $159.72; 8. Leann Inge, $106.48.

TEAM ROPING

1. Cale McCall/Gus Howell, $1,127.86 each; 2. Seth Driggers/ Trent Vaught, $933.41 each; 3. Reed Richison/ Braydon Cox, $739.45 each; 4. Ryder Gann/ Michael Delaney, $544.48 each; 5. Wyatt Vinson/Ross Daniel, $350.03 each; 6. (tie) Trevor Naylor/ Gus Albertson and Heath Philpot/J-Luke Wickett, $97.23 each.

COWGIRL BREAKAWAY RIDING

1. Bleu Hall, $618.62; 2. Johnna Setzer, $489.74; 3. Aubrey Lee, $412.42; 4. (tie) Cale Neisius and Kelsey Jeffries, $296.42 each; 6. Savannah Toon, $206.21; 7. (tie) Katherine Napier, Sage McClain and Emily Long, $85.92 each.