Rodeo time
Annual Silver Spur event kicks off today
The Silver Spur Rodeo is closing in on another milestone. A year from now it will be a three-quarters of a century old — one of the longest enduring annual events in Yuma, if not the longest.
The organizers of the rodeo, the Yuma Jaycees, are already thinking ahead about how to mark 75 years in a big way.
But in the meantime, 74 has a lot to offer.
In three days of competition sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, cowboys from around the state, region and other parts of the nation will put their skills to the test in bull and bareback riding, steer wrestling roping, barrel racing and other events.
And each day’s performance will feature a Motorcross vs. Barrels contest, in which contestants riding dirt bikes, quads or three-wheelers will race around barrels in the configuration of a traditional barrel racing event. Cash prizes will go to the competitors who record the fastest times.
Gates for the 74th annual Silver Spur Rodeo open at 2 p.m. today and Saturday at the Yuma County Fairgrounds, 2520 E. 32nd St., with performances beginning at 4. On Sunday, gates open at noon, with the performance starting at 2 p.m.
A rodeo dance at Whiskey Road Saloon, 3780 S. 4th Ave., follows today’s and Saturday’s performances. And, of course, there will be the rodeo parade on Saturday morning.
“We would like to see the Yuma community come out and enjoy themselves,” said James Kilkelly, Jaycees rodeo chairman.
The theme of this year’s parade is “Honoring Our Heroes.” That theme, says parade chairwoman Kristie Kilkelly, pays tribute not only to military personnel and emergency responders, but anyone who goes above and beyond to serve their community or their country.
Earlier this week, Kristie Kilkelly was still taking applications from floats, marching bands and others wanting to be in the parade, so she didn’t have a final count on the number of entries. Suffice it to say the parade will be long in length and duration.
“I’m looking at at least a good hour — an hour of great fun,” she said.
Yuma County Sheriff Leon Wilmot will lead the parade as marshal. The honorary parade marshal will be Chance Corpron, a past Jaycees president and past rodeo chairman.
The parade gets underway at 9:30 a.m. at Maiden Lane, heading north to 2nd Street, turning west on 2nd, then south on Main Street. It will turn west from Main onto Giss Parkway, turn south on 2nd Avenue, continuing west on 4th Street to 4th Avenue, where it will turn south and continue to 12th Street.
“We always have some interesting floats,” Kristie said. “Some of the community members get really creative, so I’m anxious to see what they come up with.”
Parade entries will have dignitaries, including Silver Spur rodeo sponsors and queens of other rodeos from around the region, as well as equestrian groups, automobiles and walking groups. And that includes the Yuma Shriners, wearing their fezzes and squeezed into tiny cars they drive in circles and figure eights as they go with the flow of the parade.
“Of course, we’ll have the Shriners,” Kristie said. “They’re always a big hit.”
The parade will also include a riderless horse to mark the passings of those who were actively involved in the rodeo. This year’s horse is dedicated to Gary Riggins, a longtime Yuma businessman and former Silver Spur Rodeo chairman who died in May.
Announcers will be at Lutes Casino on Main Street and at Brownie’s Restaurant on 4th Avenue.
Saturday’s parade figures to be the last for Jaycee Greg Gardner as announcer at the Brownie’s location. After about a decade there, he says, he’s taking a break for health reasons.
“It’s been a fun ride,” he said, “but I’m going to call it quits.”
Today’s rodeo performance takes place on what is slated as Senior Day and Man Up Crusade Day. The Man Up Crusade is a national campaign to call awareness to the problem of domestic violence, and rodeo attendees are encouraged to wear purple as a show of support.
Saturday’s performance takes place on Tough Enough to Wear Pink Day, which calls attention to breast cancer. The public is invited to wear pink to that day’s rodeo.
Sunday is Ram Rodeo Day and Military Appreciation Day, so attendees are invited to wear red, white and blue.
There will also be a food court each day of the rodeo.
Tickets to the rodeo can be purchased online at the Silver Spur Rodeo’s website, yumarodeo.com, at the gate, or at the following outlets:
• Boot Barn, 242 W. 32nd St.
• Yuma Feed & Livestock Supply, 2291 E. Palo Verde St.
• Both locations of Tractor Supply Stores, 2221 W. 32nd St. and 10637 S. Frontage Road.
• C-A-L Ranch Stores, 529 W. 32nd St.
• Yuma Visitor’s Bureau, 201 N. 4th Ave.
For more information about the parade or rodeo, visit yumarodeo.com.
“Come out to the Yuma County Fairgrounds and check it out,” Kristie said. “The weather is supposed to be pretty nice, and there will be plenty to eat, plenty to drink.”
As for next year’s rodeo, she said, “we’re already planning it.”