22nd Annual Old Spanish Trail Rodeo

Cowhands return for 22nd Annual Old Spanish Trail Rodeo

An annual passage of spring will take place Friday and Saturday at the Barnhill Arena in Baker as cowhands return to the area for the 22nd Annual Old Spanish Trail Rodeo.

The gates open at 6 p.m. each night with the action set to start at 8 p.m.

Some good news in today’s tough economy is ticket prices remain the same.

Adult tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the gate. Tickets for children ages 5-12 are $5 in advance and $8 at the gate. Children under the age of five get in free.

Advance tickets can be purchased at businesses throughout the area that display the Old Spanish Trail Rodeo signs.

The rodeo, which is sponsored by the Baker Area Recreation Association, is expected to attract between 200-250 cowboys and cowgirls, longtime BARA board member Bill Barnhill said.

“We are on a new (rodeo) circuit, the Lone Star Rodeo Circuit out of Kentucky,” he said. “We are expecting a lot of participants. We think we will have more bareback riders and saddle bronc riders this year.”

Riders and ropers on the men’s side will compete in bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, calf roping, team roping, steer wrestling and bull riding. The cowgirls will compete in break away roping and barrel racing.

The rodeo might be competing on a new circuit, but plenty of familiar faces return to entertain the spectators.

Always a crowd favorite, rodeo clown Rudy Burns will be back, along with announcer Jim Poole.

The rodeo also has added a new act with Blake Goode. Goode’s act includes him entering the arena Roman-style straddling two horses. He also has trained Brahma bulls that jump through hoops.

Barnhill is expecting another great weekend.

“This is our 22nd year and it gets bigger and better each year,” he said. “We are excited to be with the new rodeo circuit.

“We have great returning acts, great sponsors and great participants. Having our great fans come out again will complete the picture.”