Rodeo is new fair event

Catie Lane

MCP’s coverage of the 78th Western Michigan Fair is brought to you through the generous support of FloraCraft of Ludington, www.FloraCraft.com and Squires Family Chiropractic, 414 E. U.S. 10, Scottville; 231-757-3356; www.drlewissquires.com.

The fair will be held Tuesday, Aug. 5 through Saturday, Aug. 9 at the Mason County Fairgrounds on U.S. 10 east of Ludington. 

By Allison Scarbrough. Contributing Editor.

LUDINGTON — Super Kickers Rodeo Production, based in Paris Mich., will provide action-packed entertainment Wednesday, Aug. 6, at 7 p.m. in the Grandstand.

The rodeo is a new event for this year’s fair, and it is sure to be a crowd-pleaser. Watch barrel racing, saddle bronco racing, bareback bronco racing, team roping and even bull riding. Rodeo clowns will provide humorous entertainment and a safety distraction for the brave bull riders.

Intermission activities will get the kids involved. There will be a Mutton Busting race for younger children, and a Boot Race for older kids. During the Mutton Busting, kids get to try their hand at a sheep ride.

Local 4-H member, 15-year-old Catie Lane, will compete in the barrel racing event. The Mason County Central sophomore, who has been involved in 4-H since she was in kindergarten, is thrilled that the fair now offers a rodeo. “I think this a great opportunity,” Catie said. “I’m so pumped. I always wanted a rodeo at the fair. This is a great way to spread the word about rodeos in my hometown.” Two other local riders — Paige Ohse and Haley Hopkins — are also slated to compete in the barrel racing competition, Katie said.

Catie has been training with an American Paint horse, Bubba, for the event. “He has a heart for speed,” she said of the 8-year-old horse owned by her 12-year-old brother, Marc Lane.

Catie has a lot of experience in the rodeo world. She competed in the 2013 National Little Britches Rodeo Association competition in Pueblo, Colo. She also won the title of 2014-15 Rodeo Queen for LRBA of Michigan and competes in other many other events through LRBA. The teen aspires to be large animal veterinarian or work in the field of equine performance medicine.

Plans are for a local exhibitor to sing the National Anthem to kick off the event, said Western Michigan Fair Association Member Dave Bendele, who chairs the rodeo event, but it has not yet been confirmed who the singer will be.

Bendele said he is confident the rodeo will be a success. “I’ve seen (Super Kickers Rodeo) several times before, and I know they do a good job,” he added.

Grandstands open at 6 p.m. Pre-sale rodeo grandstand tickets are available through Aug. 3, for $10. Grandstand tickets the day of event are $12.

All fair information and stories can be accessed in the menu underneath the Mason County Press masthead at www.MasonCountyPress.com. Also, for more information, visit the fair’s Facebook page: Facebook.com/masoncountyfairgrounds or website: masoncountyfairgrounds.com