Pete White, the owner of Pistol Creek Rodeo, will host the Flathead River Rodeo that runs Thursday through Saturday at the Polson Fairgrounds.

White, who has been involved with the Flathead River Rodeo since 2012, said the popularity of the event has grown in every single year he has hosted it.

White, whose company Pistol Creek Rodeo hosted a successful Ronan Pioneer Days that had several special features including buffalo riding, said he felt the Les Baldwin Arena and the Polson Fairground have always been a great place to host the event.

“I’ve been involved since 2012 and this is my first year,” White said. “The event has grown in size and become an annual event. It has great competitors with the backdrop of Flathead Lake and Flathead River. You couldn’t ask for a prettier site for a rodeo.”

The rodeo will hold special events including team pinning, team roping, team branding and trailer loading. The Flathead River Rodeo will also have saddle bronc riding Thursday night.

White said the Flathead River Rodeo aims to have a multitude of events that showcase the western lifestyle of the rodeo.

“We are trying to showcase our western lifestyle and heritage, and some of the featured events that you might not see in a typical rodeo,” White said. “That really brings a different element. It is like when we do the day to day ranch work and incorporate the competitive atmosphere of a rodeo into it.”

Because of the some of the unique competitions the Flathead Rodeo will incorporate along with the traditional rodeo, the Flathead Rodeo has generated a lot of interest from several contestants and fans that live the western lifestyle.

“We are excited and we have some teams that are really interested in coming in that either have teams or individuals that work closely together in various ranches,” White said. “(This rodeo) will be fun to watch.”

White said he would like to thank the sponsors and contestants that will participate in this year’s rodeo.

“You can’t have one without the other,” White said. “I am truly blessed to have a great deal of sponsors and great fans that also bring a lot of great contestants (at these rodeos).”

The Flathead River Rodeo will open its doors Thursday, Aug. 24 at the Polson Fairgrounds.

The three-day event will all have starting times at 7 p.m. Admission will be $10 for adults and $5 for kids for the open ranch rodeo.