More than 800 students to compete in annual Ranger Rodeo October 28-30

October 26, 2021

The Northwestern Ranger Rodeo will take place at 7 p.m. on Oct. 28-30 at the Woods County Fairgrounds Arena.

The Northwestern Oklahoma State University Rodeo Team will play host to its annual rodeo Thursday-Saturday, Oct. 28-30, at 7 p.m. at the Woods County Fairgrounds Arena south of Alva where 17 schools with more than 800 students will compete for the top prize in each event. Tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for children.

"We are happy to announce that we are going to have the Northwestern Rodeo this year," head coach Stockton Graves said. "It will be exciting to have fans back in attendance along with the team being excited to be back and compete at the home rodeo. We are excited to get to work and continue our season here in Alva."

Thursday is “Student Night” with all Northwestern students being admitted free of charge by showing a current student ID; Friday is Family Night/Calf Scramble for Kids; and Saturday is the Match of Champions.

On Friday, teams of two men and two women will enter into a foot race with the winners taking home $100. Each team member must be in western attire with boots and hat and will go down and back the length of the arena.

On Saturday during the Match of Champions, winners of the average in the breakaway roping, steer wrestling and team roping will go head-to-head for the chance to win a $250 bonus against former Northwestern rodeo standouts and National Finals Rodeo qualifiers Taylor Munsell, Bridger Anderson, World Champion Jacob Edler, Nick Sartain and Shannon Frascht. The matches will be held immediately following each event.

Northwestern Rodeo is on track to have another successful season having participated in three rodeos so far this semester at Colby Community College, Southeastern Oklahoma State and Oklahoma State University. 

Northwestern has gotten off to a fast start seeing Kaden Greenfield, Lakeview, Oregon, junior, winning the steer wrestling title at Oklahoma State's rodeo in the beginning of October. 

"I am excited that we will have the Ranger Rodeo in Alva again," Athletic Director Brad Franz said. "This event is a huge event for Northwestern Oklahoma State University, Alva and all of the great people of Northwestern Oklahoma. We look forward to the hundreds of contestants that will be here for the event. Coach Stockton Graves has an excellent team, and we are excited for them to compete."

Slack, or overflow contestants, will take place at the fairgrounds arena on Friday at 9 a.m. for barrel racing with timed-events to follow and Friday night after the performance for saddle bronc and bareback if needed. Slack also is scheduled for Saturday at 9 a.m. for barrel racing followed by time-events and bull riding.

Bullfighters this year are Alex Phelps and Wacey Munsell, and Ty Dean is the announcer. The stock contractor is Frontier Rodeo Company.

-NW-