Gleichen grows every year

Times Reporter   

 

The Gleichen Rodeo will be returning on August 23 and 24, in its 10th consecutive year. Anyone that is not carded professionally – amateur and semi-pro riders – will be able to enter this week. A couple hundred participants are expected to compete.

“It’s just an old time rodeo,” said Head Coordinator, Jeff Yule. “There’ll be lots of entries. It’s been growing every year.”

Though there used to be a Gleichen Stampede in the 1920’s, the rodeo has been running, on and off, since the 1980’s. More and more help is needed each time around – this year an expected 40 volunteers will be needed to run the food, the entertainment in the beer gardens and the small midway.

“There’s a group of us that put it on, and we all work really good together. There isn’t really anybody that’s the boss, I’m kind of the one right now that’s in charge,” said Yule, in his second year of taking the reigns. “It’s everybody, right? Everybody does their jobs.”

Local Gleichen stars include barrel racers Jayden and Rylee Wilson, and bull rider Jason Wilson. The sisters are not related to Jason, whose father owns the rodeo grounds where the event will run – just outside of Gleichen.

“He’s kind of a local talent,” said Yule of the 16-year-old Jason Wilson. “He started fighting bulls and he’s pretty good.”

The rodeo sevents will begin at 5 p.m. on both nights, with the beer gardens opening an hour before. Saturday morning, a breakfast will be served, followed by the parade at 9:30 a.m.

The rodeo is $10 for adults, $5 for youth, and under 12 are free. Free camping and a fall fair at the Gleichen Ag Society will be offered as well.