More than 300 entries at Newport Rodeo

NEWPORT – Contestants from Australia, Canada, Florida and Texas will be among the 337 contestants at this year’s 76th annual Newport Rodeo, which gets underway Thursday night, June 26, and wraps up its three-night run Saturday night, June 28. The Thursday performance starts at 6:30 p.m. and the Friday and Saturday performances at 7:15 p.m.

They will join competitors from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, California, South Dakota, Arizona, New Mexico, Wyoming and Nevada competing in bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding, steer wrestling, tie down roping, team roping, barrel racing, breakaway roping and steer roping at the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association event.

The timed events had the most entries, with 77-barrel racers, 55 breakaway ropers, 44 team ropers, 41 tie down ropers, 34 steer wrestlers and 31 steer wrestlers.

Saddle bronc riding drew 37 entries, bull riding got 25 riders, and bareback riding has 13 contestants.

Tim Ditrich of Coeur d’Alene will be back to defend his 2024 Newport bronc riding title. He will be joined by Colbert’s Tate Owens. Another Colbert resident, Madison Mills, is competing the breakaway roping. Colbert’s Malory Ownes is also in the breakaway roping. Connor Dean of Elk is competing in bull riding.

Last year’s barrel racing co-champions are returning. Abigail Knight of Charlo, Montana and Whitley Sharp of Caldwell, Idaho tied for first in the barrel racing last year. They are back to defend their Newport titles. Gus McGuinn of Haines, Oregon, won the steer wrestling last year and is entered again this year. Brian Garr of Artesia, New Mexico is back to defend his steer roping title. Steven Tonita of Laramie, Wyoming, won the bull riding last year and is entered again this year.

There are a few National Finals Rodeo competitors competing, including team roper brothers Riley and Brady Minor, who have each been to the NFR more than 10 times and have each won more the $2 million in their PRCA careers. They will join current Columbia River Circuit All Around Cowboy leader Russel Cardoza, who has qualified for a half dozen NFRs and won more than $1.3 million in the PRCA. He’s entered in the tie down roping, team roping and steer wrestling.

Last year’s Linderman Award winner Caleb McMillan is back. (see related story in rodeo special section) He had to medical release in the bull riding because of a torn labrum in his left hip but plans to compete in team roping, steer wrestling and steer roping.

Stock for this year’s event will again be supplied by Aces Wild of Soap Lake, Washington.