David Brandenberger is leading a crew of stalwarts in preparing the Brother Moore arena for the upcoming Stonyford Rodeo.
The rodeo kicks off Friday, April 29, and runs through Sunday, May 1.
This year, the task is building a livestock pen of welded iron pipes, said Stony Creek Horsemen’s Association spokesman Roy Stewart.
“Preparing the rodeo grounds and arena for the current year’s rodeo is a necessity that involves Horsemen’s Association volunteer workers,” Stewart said, in a news release.
“Every year they work on the arena and rodeo grounds construction and repair efforts, they refurbish and create new fence signs, and they perform cleanup work on the kitchen and toilets. Usually it’s the same group of 20 or so men and women; however, if the job is large, the work may involve the whole town.”
A “whole town” effort occurred in 1986 when the old “falling down” bleachers were replaced with a new grandstand that was fronted with a five-foot high concrete block wall.
“This wall set the grandstands off from the action in the arena,” Stewart said. “This was a massive effort that cost in excess of $40,000 and involved 40 or more workers.”
History of the Stony Creek Horsemen’s Association and Stonyford Rodeo are documented in the 2018 book “75 Years and Counting,” which will be available for purchase at the Stonyford Rodeo.
Tickets to this year’s rodeo are available at www.stonycreekhorsemen.org and at the following locations: Stonyford General Store; Carl’s Feed, Willows; Boot Barn, Chico and Yuba City; Bucke’s Feed & Grain, Orland; Marie’s Lakeshore Feed, Clearlake; Rainbow Ag, Lakeport; and Ace Hardware, Arbuckle.
Advance pro-rodeo ticket prices are $10 for adults and $5 for children, ages 7-12. At the rodeo gate, ticket prices are $15 for adults and $7 for children. The pre-rodeo prices are good on tickets purchased through Monday, April 25.
Tickets for the Sunday, May 1, amateur events can only be purchased at the rodeo gate. Tickets are $5 for 13 and up; children 12 and younger are free. ■