Organizers say rodeo in Columbiana County this weekend is safer than most

LISBON, Ohio (WKBN) – Hoppel’s Championship Rodeo is coming up this weekend in Columbiana County and organizers say it’s one of the safest rodeos around.

This Friday and Saturday night, people will fill the hillside next to Hoppel’s Arena in Lisbon for the annual championship rodeo.

“We have one every year Fourth of July weekend and it’s just become a tradition over the last 39 years,” Patty Hoppel said.

About 160 contestants from the International Professional Rodeo Association and the American Professional Rodeo Association will compete in the eight different events, including bull riding, barrel racing and team roping.

“They are here to win money, gain points toward their national finals,” Hoppel said.

Contestants are coming from across the U.S. and Canada.

Hoppel expects between 4,000 and 5,000 people to come out and watch this weekend.

A rodeo in Oregon gained national attention last month when a bull jumped a fence, injuring multiple people .

But there’s something about Hoppel Arena that is unique — it’s one of the only permanent rodeo arenas in this part of the country, making it much safer than the portable arenas.

“This is one of maybe two that are in, east of the Mississippi, and they’re so much safer because they’re cemented in the ground, solid pipe, where the other piping and everything is just light. A person can carry them,” said Ed Woods, with Hoppel’s Rodeo Committee.

He said that makes Hoppel’s Arena one of the best and safest in this part of the country.

Beyond the safety of the solid pipe arena, Woods says most of the rodeo animals are used to going right back into their pen. If they don’t, pick-up men on horseback are there, ready to go.

“If a cowboy gets bucked off and that bull’s running loose, he won’t go in the back pen where he belongs, them cowboys will rope him and they call it cowboy towing service,” Woods said.

At Hoppel’s Arena this weekend, veterans get in free Friday night for Veterans Night and everyone will be wearing pink on Saturday for Breast Cancer Awareness Night.

If you’re planning on going, you may want to bring a blanket or lawn chair to sit on the hillside.

Gates open at 5 p.m. and the rodeo starts at 7 p.m. both nights.

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