Ready for rodeo

NEWPORT – School is out, summer has started and the 77th Annual Newport Rodeo returns Thursday- Saturday, June 25-27 to the Newport Rodeo grounds. Rodeo action includes a full schedule of events, including bareback riding, tie down roping, saddle bronc riding, breakaway roping, steer wrestling, team roping, barrel racing, steer roping and bull riding.

Thursday is Family Night. All tickets will be discounted, and the performance will get underway at 6:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday events start at 7:15 p.m. Friday is North 40 Patriot Night with military and first responders’ tickets only costing $15. Saturday is ‘Because There Is Hope, Pink’ night with rodeo personnel wearing pink for breast cancer awareness. The audience is encouraged to wear pink as well. The carnival and food vendors will be open at 4 p.m. Thursday and Friday and at noon on Saturday. There is no entry fee to access those areas.

The traditional Rodeo Parade will take place Saturday, at 11 a.m. The parade will also be broadcast on 91.5 FM, KUBS FM radio, Newport High School’s radio station. People that want to march in the parade and/or have a float can still do so by going to www. newportrodeo.com/parade-groups-floats. Parade entry line up starts at Stratton Elementary School at 9 a.m.

Since the Newport Rodeo is Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association sanctioned, it makes it the only professional sporting event in Pend Oreille County and the county’s biggest event. Over the course of three days, the 2025 Newport Rodeo attracted 15,000 spectators, not counting the competitors, according to Newport Rodeo Association President Ray Hanson.

Ace’s Wild ProRodeo return as Newport Rodeo’s stock contractor, Brent Jordan is back as the emcee,

Local bull rider Colton

Schneiderman of Deer Park who recently won second place at the

Lewiston Challenge of Champions

Tour at the Lewiston Roundup will be competing at this week’s rodeo.

Brian Rapier continues his streak as the rodeo’s music director and the rodeo clown is Tate Rhoads. This year’s grand marshal is Albeni Falls Building Supply of Oldtown.

Local bull rider Colton Schneiderman of Deer Park who recently won second place at the Lewiston Challenge of Champions Tour at the Lewiston Roundup will be competing at this week’s rodeo. Other locals competing are Joyce Merrill, also of Deer Park, and Alizae Youngblood of Riverside, both in barrel racing. Contestants from all over the United States and Australia will be competing for cash prizes.

The Association continues to increase the competition purse, with $50,000 in prize money split between the 10 events.

SOPHIA MATTICE-ALDOUS IS A MURROW NEWS FELLOW WORKING DIRECTLY WITH NEWSROOMS AT THE NEWPORT MINER AND RANGE MEDIA THROUGH A PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY. HER REPORTING IS AVAILABLE FOR USE VIA CREATIVE COMMONS WITH CREDIT.