ridge riders | Grand Coulee Dam Visitors Guide

A bullrider holds on during the 2012 Cleatis Lacey Bullarama in Grand Coulee. — A bullrider holds on during the 2012 Cleatis Lacy Bullarama in Grand Coulee.

Tucked against the great Grand Coulee wall, the Ridge Riders Saddle Club Rodeo grounds probably offers the most picturesque setting for any rodeo arena anywhere.

Couple that with a beer garden and you’ve got yourself a nice setting for a great time.

Ridge Rider activity heats up late this month with two special events at the Rodeo Grounds.

Friday night, June 28, the Ridge Riders present the 2nd Annual Cleatis Lacy Memorial Bull Riding.

And on Saturday night, June 29, the Ridge Riders present the lone Ranch Rodeo of the year.

The Lacy Bull Riding Memorial event is named after Grand Coulee’s late Cleatis Lacy, a rodeo cowboy and rodeo hand whose career spanned several decades.

The bull riding begins at the Rodeo Grounds at 7 p.m. with concession stands and the beer garden opening at 6 p.m. Tickets are $10.

Entry fee for bull riding is $75, with an added purse of $1,500. You can register through Sorrel Katich, 631-4655 or 634-4316. Katich will supply the stock for the special event.

Saturday night’s ranch rodeo will be an entirely different kind of contest. If you’ve never been to one, know that they’re an interesting and laid-back alternative to mainstream rodeo, with contestants in teams that practice real, modern ranch skills, such as getting that animal to go into that trailer!

The Ranch Rodeo is being organized by Bubba Egbert and teams can register by contacting him at 633-6849 or 631-4200.

Entry fee for the Ranch Bronc Riding is $50, with $1,500 added.

The team part of the Ranch Rodeo has an entry fee of $200 per team.

Teams are made up of three men and one woman and they will compete in such events as team branding, trailer loading and pasture gathering.

Teams can be made up of ranch hands, four individuals who would just like to compete, or any other combination.

Tickets are $8 and action begins at 6 p.m. The concession stands and beer garden open at 5 p.m.

Hoots and hollers from the area’s first-ever “ranch rodeo” will echo off the coulee walls when its sponsored by the local Ridge Riders Club on June 30.
Even if you’ve never been to a rodeo, this might be one you want to check out. First, the setting is unique — tucked up against the coulee wall that nearly glows in the sun. Second, it’s a “ranch rodeo,” which means it features contests in real tasks demanded of modern-day cowboys, things ranchers have to do all the time.
The rodeo show begins Saturday, June 30, at 6 p.m. at the Ridge Riders rodeo grounds in Delano.
Ranch teams of four contestants, including one woman, will compete in four different events:
– Team Branding,
– Team Mugging,
– Trailer Loading and
– Ranch bronc Riding.
A concession stand and Beer Garden open at 4 p.m.
The Ranch Rodeo is the first of its kind in the area, and a second one will be held in the same arena on Sept. 22.
Cost for the Ranch Rodeo is $6. Those 10 and under can view the action without charge.