With that little rodeo event in Calgary out of the way, the people of Central Alberta can now look forward to the summer's main rodeo event.The Bowden and District Agricultural Society is holding its 21st Bowden Daze Rodeo from July 25 to 27 with roughly 350 participants expected to kick up the dust at the Bowden Rodeo Grounds.Keith Bailey, the society's president, said events begin on July 25 at 11 a.m. with the junior rodeo for cowboys and cowgirls aged 16 and under.Team roping will follow that evening at 6 p.m.The next morning will begin with a “slack” for the overflow of rodeo contestants at 9 a.m., followed by the Bowden Daze Parade at 11 a.m.At 1 p.m., the Central Alberta Rodeo Association-sanctioned rodeo begins and runs until roughly 4 p.m.On the evening of July 26, the Professional Roughstock Corporation (PRC) will take the reigns from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. with events featuring professional bareback, saddle bronc and bull riders.There will be 10 participants in each PRC event and the top four from each category will come back for the finals.At 10 p.m., the rodeo cabaret begins in the rodeo grounds beer gardens with the band Rooster in the Hen House performing.On July 27, the rodeo winds down with a Mutton Bustin' event at noon where children aged six and under can ride sheep, followed by the rodeo finals.Bailey said this year's rodeo is running in conjunction with a baseball tournament being held at the rodeo grounds and there is free camping all weekend.The event also features a concession stand and beer gardens.Bailey said organizers are expecting about 1,200 people over the course of the weekend.Admission for July 26 is $15 for adults and $10 for youth and admission for July 27 is $10 for adults and $5 for youth.Admission for July 25 is free.The rodeo grounds are located south of Bowden off of Highway 2A.Entries for the main event rodeo, junior rodeo and Mutton Bustin' will be selected on July 16.To enter, call 403-559-6316 for the main rodeo and Mutton Bustin' or 403-507-3126 for the junior rodeo.For more information, visit http://www.bowdenagsociety.com/[email protected]
