Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
A young competitor shows off a ribbon at the Rolling Hills Rodeo.
ROSALIA - The Rolling Hills Rodeo took place in Rosalia on July 17-18.
With rodeos in June, July, and August, the Rolling Hills Rodeo Association (RHRA) is only inviting members to compete this year due to starting the season under COVID-19 restrictions.
Running only timed events, the schedule includes barrels, poles, goat-tying, breakaway roping, team roping, and calf tracking. The event includes steer daubing, a precursor to steer wrestling, and California stake, which is when a horse and rider exit the gate and race to a pole, round it, and come back.
"We've had three generations competing in the same event in the same arena on the same day," said Trisha Brash, RHRA president and rodeo announcer.
The eight-year-old organization spun off from the longtime Palouse River Ropers Association.
The first Rosalia rodeo of this year was held on June 19-20, with an estimated 90 participants from North Idaho to Lewiston, Davenport, Moses Lake, and beyond. A similar crowd arrived last weekend.
The RHRA's members are eligible to enter, with the public allowed to attend at no charge.
In a normal year, all riders may pay an entry fee and compete.
The rodeos are funded by membership fees, sponsorships, and donations.
"My favorite thing is, it's fun to watch the kids' growth year over year," Bash said. "And that's the reason we keep doing it."
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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