The Colorama Pro Rodeo returns, bull riding too

The Colorama Rodeo happens Friday and Saturday evenings, but the Cleatis Lacy Bull Riding gets you going a day earlier from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, May 9, all at the Ridge Riders Rodeo Grounds.

The rodeo will be featured on The Cowboy Channel again this year, which will air it the same day, May 9 and 10.

The rodeo typically offers all the events you expect - broncs, barrels, roping and riding, and ... sheep?

Yes, sheep. It's a great challenge for the kids to get on a sheep for the mutton busting event.

This year's rodeo will also feature stick horse races for kids, trick riders, a drill team and a rodeo clown, some of whom will be in the parade through Grand Coulee on Saturday. And contrary to what you may have heard, the Rattlesnake Saloon will be back.

The bull riding event the day before is all bulls.

The Ridge Riders are missing their late president, George Kohout, who was a driving force behind making the rodeo a significant event, the first of the season in the state, and televised. Kohout passed away last August.

Another rodeo luminary also passed on recently. Betty Lacy, at 104, died peacefully May 5. The wife of the bull riding event's namesake, Betty was also a staple of the Northwest rodeo trail.