MOSES LAKE — A good time was had by all at the annual Moses Lake Roundup Rodeo banquet held at the Elks Lodge Saturday. More than 200 people were on hand for the prime rib and chicken cordon bleu dinner prepared by Divito Catering and Top Gun Concessions out of Wilson Creek, and awards ceremony that followed.

“All in all this was a huge success thanks to Jim and Joy Duzon at Top Gun catering for an excellent meal,” said Tyler Brown, treasurer of the Moses Lake Roundup Rodeo. “The Elks Lodge was a great facility to hold our banquet.”

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the first Columbia Basin Rodeo, with the first event being held in 1943 at the lower end of Wheeler road adjacent to where Safeway is located today.

In the early years, wild horses were rounded up in Frenchman Hills and Vantage to use for the bareback and saddle bronc events. The last wild horse roundup was held in 1953. Since then, the Columbia Basin Rodeo Association has relied on professional bucking stock.

The CBRA moved to its current location at the Grant County Fair Grounds in 1963.

The Moses Lake Roundup is a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association sanctioned event that won Small Rodeo of the Year in 2011. After increasing purse money, the Roundup won Large Rodeo of the Year in 2013. This year’s rodeo takes place Aug.16-18.

“We have an outstanding lineup of the best PRCA contestants in all events as well as the top PRCA entertainers for our 75th anniversary,” Brown said. “It’ll be a spectacular event no one will want to miss!”