Soldotna Equestrian Association holds 2nd rodeo of season

The Soldotna Equestrian Association is holding its second rodeo of the season Saturday and Sunday, June 28 and 29, at the Soldotna Rodeo Grounds in Soldotna.

Kristi Edwards, who is on the board of the Soldotna Equestrian Association, said the rodeo is proud to offer Bull Riding.

Saturday, six riders failed to ride a bull for eight seconds. Sunday, in the rodeo starting at 1 p.m., another five riders will get their shot.

Edwards said it costs thousands of dollars for Kolo Bucking Bulls to truck down the steer and bulls from Fairbanks for the rodeo.

“We thought it was great for the community to have a full rodeo experience, or a real rodeo experience,” Edwards said. “So we have Bull Riding again, and that’s just because we got local businesses to help us out.”

The rodeo on both days also includes a program of Ladies Breakaway Roping, Chute Dogging, Mutton Busting, Ribbon Roping, Junior Bull Riding, Double Mugging and Team Roping.

Saturday had Open Barrels, while Sunday will have Pole Bending.

While none of the adults were able to ride the bull, Edwards said one of the highlights was Soldotna’s Levi Beplat lasting for eight seconds in Junior Bull Riding.

“He did like two or three events in the Youth Rodeo, then came out and rode junior bulls,” Edwards said. “He’s never done it in his life, as far as I know of.”

Laramie Gibson also got a roar from the crowd for successfully wrestling a steer to the ground in Chute Dogging. Gibson, of Wasilla, will compete in the 2025 National High School Finals Rodeo in July in Wyoming.

“He’s a wrestler in high school, so this is right up his alley,” Edwards said. “He just doesn’t let go.”

Edwards said another highlight was the team of Soldotna’s Corey Wilkinson and Abraham Van Hout.

The duo was the only team to record a time in Ribbon Roping, with Wilkinson roping and Van Hout grabbing a ribbon off the tail and running to a designated spot in the arena.

In Double Mugging, Wilkinson roped and Van Hout did the wrestling to the ground, but Wilkinson was not able to tie the rear legs in time.

“That was another big one for the crowd,” Edwards said. “They’re both local.”

While Edwards said the Soldotna Equestrian Association appreciates the help from the community, the organization also likes to give back.

This was a “purple rodeo” because June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month. This rodeo is raising money for the Kenai Peninsula Family Caregiver Support Program, run out of the Nikiski Senior Center.

“It’s just important around here to let the community know that there are services available, because one of our board members, whose family member was affected, really didn’t know where to go,” Edwards said.

The third and final rodeo of the season will be July 25 to 27, in conjunction with Soldotna Progress Days. This rodeo will be pink for breast cancer awareness.

July 25, barrels and poles will be at 7 p.m., while the July 26 Youth Rodeo will start at 11 a.m., the July 26 rodeo will start at 2 p.m. and the July 27 rodeo will start at 1 p.m.

“We’re trying to get the word out, because there’s still people who say they didn’t know that we had rodeos here,” Edwards said.