Where can families go to enjoy a free, fun rodeo experience for their children? They can attend the 12th Annual Rosewood Rodeo, scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 8, at the Great Bend Expo III Arena, two miles west on 10th and Patton Road.
The annual rodeo is one of the most important days of the year for equine-therapy riders from Rosewood Services who practice their riding skills at Rosewood Ranch on a weekly basis throughout the year. The ranch is a full-working horse ranch near Pawnee Rock where people with developmental disabilities learn to ride and care for approximately 75 horses.
Throughout the Rosewood Rodeo, families can experience children’s activities and games, face painting, wagon rides and an appearance by Randy the Clown. A special guest, Kansas Supreme Court Justice Dan Biles will provide the rodeo’s invocation.
Rosewood Rodeo’s grand entry and flag ceremony is scheduled for 10 a.m. Then, throughout the day, therapeutic rodeo events will be held for Rosewood Services riders, including an event for children riders, followed by the award ceremony at approximately 4 p.m.
In between the day’s rodeo events, back by popular demand is the award winning all-female Heartland Twisters riding drill team, who will perform at 10:30 a.m. and again at 2 p.m. (All performance times are approximate.) The Twisters, from Chanute will perform two different programs, with a salute to American Troops during the morning, followed by a tribute to Cancer Survivors in the afternoon.
During the rodeo, the public can participate in a silent auction, where you can expect to find excellent deals on merchandise, with all bids closing at 4 p.m. Proceeds from the auction go to Rosewood’s non-profit Roots & Wings Foundation. The foundation provides therapeutic, educational and recreational opportunities to people in need who have developmental disabilities.
Plan to attend any or all of the days events while enjoying concessions and browsing tack-shop merchandise, which will be available all day. The Rodeo concludes at 5 p.m. with a delicious BBQ dinner available to all for $5 each.
Events slated for this year’s Rosewood Rodeo include: kids’ games and activities, including face painting; horse drawn wagon rides; Heartland Twisters drill team performances; tack shop with novelties and rosewood client-made items; Silent Auction; concessions; three rodeo events by Rosewood Services Adult Riders; one rodeo event by Rosewood Services Children Riders; staff races; award ceremony for rodeo participants; celebration bbq dinner (clients/volunteers eat free, $5 at the door for everyone else)