Junior Rodeo always a hit at the fair

Photo right: Sasha Coffee rides in the flag race at the 2010 Junior Rodeo during last year's Great Northern Fair in Havre. The junior rodeo kicks off the 2011 fair Wednesday night at 5:30 p.m.

Summer is in full swing and fair season is here with the Great Northern Fair coming to the Hi-Line on Wednesday.

And kicking off the festivities is the junior rodeo, taking over the grandstands at 5 p.m. Wednesday night. The Hi-Line High School Rodeo Club is putting on the junior rodeo, with the club being found at high schools in Havre, Big Sandy, Rudyard and Box Elder.

This years' junior rodeo should be another exciting time. Nearly 90 kids from the ages of four to 18 are registered to take part this year, and the numbers are spread pretty even. In the four to eight year old group, 32 kids will participate. And in the nine to 13 age group, 34 kids will participate, while 22 14 to 18 year olds will also take their shot and rodeo glory.

In the 4-8 year-old group, the participants will try their hand at sheep riding, the arena boot race, barrel racing, goat ribbon untying and the flag race. The 9-13 year-olds will compete in the steer riding, breakaway roping barrel racing, goat tying, pole bending and team roping. And the 14-18 year-olds will participate in chute dogging, break away roping, barrel racing, goat tying, pole bending, calf roping and team roping.

Participants are also coming from all over. Junior hopefuls will attend from Rudyard, Big Sandy, Box Elder, Rocky Boy, Chinook, Harlem, Gilford, Winifred, Great Falls and Havre.

The numbers are down from years past, but are consistent with numbers the numbers from a year ago. But with fan favorites such as the four to eight year olds sheep riding, this years' rodeo promises to be just as exciting. And with so many kids just excited to participate and compete, fans are in store for a real treat.

The junior rodeo is the kickoff for the Great Northern Fair and always sets the bar for fun and entertaining week of sports in Havre. And with nearly 90 participants, the rodeo will get started on Wednesday at 5 p.m.