Soldotna Equestrian Association holds its last rodeo of season

The Soldotna Equestrian Association completed a big rodeo season with its third rodeo of the year Friday through Sunday, July 25 to 27, at the Soldotna Rodeo Grounds.

Kristi Edwards, who is on the board of the Soldotna Equestrian Association, said there were 140 people registered for the main rodeo and youth rodeo. Edwards said 100 people is normal.

In Sunday’s youth rodeo, Edwards said there were 148 runs.

“That’s a lot for kids rodeo,” she said.

Edwards said the July rodeo associated with Soldotna Progress Days is always a big one.

In each of the three rodeos, the Soldotna Equestrian Association picks a cause for a donation.

Edwards said the July rodeo is traditionally for breast cancer awareness. A donation was made this year to oncology at Central Peninsula Hospital to help patients with expenses that are not covered by insurance.

In the past few years, Edwards said the Soldotna Equestrian Association has done things like sponsorship flags. Also, businesses can buy the chute that bulls come out of and name that bull.

“We had some people that hadn’t been to the rodeo in years,” Edwards said. “Because they’re sponsors, they get in for free.

“And so they’re bringing their grandkids, and they’re showing up and bringing their families. So I honestly think the stands are better.”

The Soldotna Equestrian Association also has had the money for Kolo Bucking Bulls to bring bulls down from Fairbanks for each rodeo.

“A lot are retired — a couple have been to the national finals, some have been to the Calgary Stampede,” Edwards said. “It’s not that they’re old or retired, it’s just that they’re buying more of these stock.

“He purchased them from them, brings them up here, and they winter in the Valley somewhere.”

Alaska’s bull riders can attest the bulls are not old and retired. For the second straight season, nobody was able to ride a bull for eight seconds at a Soldotna rodeo.

Kolo Bucking Bulls even put an extra $1,000 in the pot for the weekend, bringing it to about $3,000, to draw bull riders.

Levi Beplat was able to make time in Junior Bull Riding, and he also wrestled a steer to the ground in Chute Dogging.

Edwards said Beplat is local and has impressed in his first year.

“That kid has done a lot this summer for being new,” Edwards said.

Other highlights from the weekend were Tammy West taking first and Corey Wilkinson taking second in Barrel Racing, Teresa Bitterich taking first and Wilkinson taking second in Open Poles, Wilkinson and Abraham Van Hout winning Ribbon Roping, Garrett Willis and Stephen Primera winning Team Roping, Willis and Trapper Behm winning Double Mugging, and Breanna Bruchart winning Ladies Breakaway Roping.

While Soldotna Equestrian Association is done with rodeos for the season, Edwards said area fans can still take in the Kenai Peninsula Fair Rodeo, put on by Rodeo Alaska, from Aug. 8 to 10.

Edwards also said the Soldotna Equestrian Association will continue to have weekly barrel racing and pole bending Wednesday nights at the Soldotna Rodeo Grounds through the rest of the summer. Admission is free.