It was always the intention that one day the Jasper County Fair Rodeo would grow into a full rodeo with more events for competitors, more action the audience and more seating to accommodate the increased attendance. Well, it looks like this is the year, and the fair board is going all out.
Chauncy Wiggins-Kain, of the Jasper County Fair Board, said in the past it has always been considered a “rough stock rodeo” with bucking broncos, barrel riding and bull riding. Those will still be feature but this year’s full rodeo also includes timed events, steer wrestling and breakaway roping, among other things.
“Which, in theory, should draw in a much larger crowd,” Wiggins-Kain said. “Also, we’ve done mutton busting in the past and we will now be having a kids boot scramble this year. We will have the Red Rock Riders perform; it’s a horse drill team so they have a routine or patterns that they do.”
Of course, the Ty Carlson Memorial Bull Ride will still be held during the rodeo. The event honors the eponymous rider who grew up in Colfax. At age 19 he was killed in a single-vehicle accident north of town in 2017. The memorial bull ride, organized by his family, is held every year in his name.
Also performing the rodeo is Jordan Beem, an Iowa-based musician. He will also hold a set at the beer garden after the rodeo has concluded. Food vendors and face painting will also be available. To account for the growing crowds at the rodeo, the fair board has doubled the amount of bleachers at the event.
Parking has always been an issue for the fair and the rodeo. To make things a little easier, the City of Colfax and Colfax-Mingo Community School District have partnered together to have a free shuttle service at Quarry Springs Park to lead folks to the fairgrounds gate. The shuttle runs from 5:30 p.m. to midnight.
In the past, the rodeo had been held on the Friday of the fair. This year it has been moved to Saturday, July 20. Wiggins-Kain said by this time all of the livestock will be available for public viewing, giving visitors time to check out the animals or enjoy some fair food before the big event.
The rodeo will start at 7 p.m. It is the only paid admissions event at the county fair. Adult tickets are $15 and tickets for kids ages 6-12 are $5.
Kids ages 5 and under can enter free.
Wiggins-Kain said the rodeo helps bring more visibility to the Jasper County Fair and surrounding community. As someone with young children of her own, it is exciting to see kids and families looking forward to the rodeo every year. To her, it reminds her of when Colfax used to host its demo derby.
“Everyone got excited for that, and I kind of want the rodeo to be that exciting thing that everyone looks forward to in the summer,” she said. “It’s right in their backyard and it’s not very expensive. Entertainment has always been a struggle for us at the fair. To me, the rodeo is a big way to bring in outside people.”
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