Coulee City readies for last stand rodeo

Every May over Memorial Dayweekend, the citizens of the oldest town in Grant County put on their boots and dust off their hats for an action-packed weekend with Coulee City’s “Last Stand Rodeo.”

The May 24-26 event historically has drawn some of the best talent in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA).

It starts Friday night under the lights with a Bullarama at 7, pitting cowboys against beasts that weigh up to 2,000 pounds. Also on Friday there is the added wild and woolly action of Mutton Bustin’ for children ages 3 to 8 years old, 60 pounds and under.

The rodeo continues with more bull riding, bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, barrel racing, saddle bronc riding and tie-down roping, along with the entertainment of famous rodeo clown Kevin Higley and bullfighters Danny Newman and Donnie Griggs both Saturday night and Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m.

Newly elected rodeo queen and hometown girl Caelan Pitts, invites you “to the first 2013 professional rodeo in the Columbia Basin River Circuit PRCA rodeo season. I have dream of being the Last Stand Rodeo Queen since I was a little girl. I am so honored to represent the Last Stand Rodeo this year in Coulee City and look forward to meeting you at the rodeo!”

The Big Bend & Flying 5 Rodeo Company, one of the top rough stock companies in the United States, provides the rodeo stock. The announcer is PRCA announcer-of-the-year Wayne Brooks from Texas.

The event also offers a cowboy breakfast, parade and 5K “Cow Pie Jog.”