Tell your friends and neighbors: The Pioneer Days Rodeo is on again!

The Friends of the Fairground and the Lake County Fair Board listened to the community outcry when the Pioneer Days committee recently announced the annual rodeo was cancelled this year. Fans said it just wouldn’t be Pioneer Days weekend without a rodeo.

They brainstormed to produce an open rodeo at the fairgrounds in Ronan to keep the tradition alive.

“We’re doing it for the community,” said Fair Board member Mike Lien during a meeting Tuesday morning with the Lake County Commissioners to get their take on the idea.

“We need the community to come together,” he added.

The commissioners gave the rodeo their blessing, with Commissioner Gale Decker volunteering to help out for a day, “maybe drive a tractor.”

Concessions and a beer garden will be offered by the Pioneer Days committee.

Since it’s a big project, extra hands, donations, or a sponsorship will all help.

“We all have the attitude that we can do it,” said fair board member Paul Toussaint. He encouraged naysayers to “watch and see how it’s done cause we’re gonna get ‘er done.”

Leland McMillan from Rodeo Productions LKC will provide the rodeo stock and set up pens and chutes at the Ronan Fairgrounds, where the rodeo has historically been held. The Ronan Pioneer Days committee had hoped to relocate the event to the new Mission Range Events Center this year, but don’t have enough funds or manpower to build a suitable arena in time.

The action begins at 6 p.m. Aug. 1 and 3 p.m. Aug. 2, and includes bareback, saddle and ranch broncs, bulls, breakaway and team roping, barrel racing, and youth barrels. Some fun specialties include the Iron Cowgirl run and rope competition and calcuttas.

Look on LKC Rodeo Productions Facebook page for an entry form, then dust off your boots and dig out your good hat ‘cause it’s gonna be rodeo time.