Bull riding, mutton bustin’, and more are coming to the Montezuma County Fairgrounds this weekend for the annual Ute Mountain Roundup Rodeo.
This is the rodeo’s 89th year, and it will take over the fairgrounds from Thursday through Saturday.
This year, festivities will kick off with a special ceremony in honor of local fallen Sgt. Will Lindsay, 33, a member of the Green Berets who died in combat in Afghanistan earlier this year. Military Appreciation Night has become a tradition for the rodeo’s first night, but this year it has special significance in paying respect to Lindsay and his family.
The ceremony will begin at 7 p.m. with a bugle performance of “To the Colors,” followed by a presentation of colors and a rendition of the national anthem.
After a remembrance of Lindsay, Taps will be sounded, followed by a special commemoration involving Lindsay’s family and a riderless horse, which traditionally represents a fallen soldier.
Lindsay was born and raised in Cortez, enlisting in the Army shortly after his graduation from Montezuma-Cortez High School in 2004. Over the course of his 15 years of service, he deployed seven times: five times to Iraq, once to Tajikistan, and once to Afghanistan.
He received several awards and decorations, including a Purple Heart and the Bronze Star Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters. He is remembered as a loving son, husband, and father to his four daughters.
After the ceremony finishes, the rodeo will begin. Similar to the first evening, the next two nights will also have themes: Friday will be a “Salute to First Responders” and Saturday a celebration of “Rodeo Heritage Night.”
Each night, the rodeo will have bareback bronc riding, team roping, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, barrel racing, breakaway roping, and bull riding.
This year, the rodeo has also added women’s breakaway roping, and mutton bustin’ and stick horse races will also take place for children.
Night’s performances will begin at 7 p.m., although the kids stick races will start at 6:45 p.m., with registration starting at 6:30 p.m.
The rodeo is sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, and tickets cost between $12 and $16. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the rodeo website.
Also at the fairgrounds this weekend, the Frazier Carnival has come to town. The carnival will be in town from Wednesday through Sunday, with rides, family activities, and more. Carnival hours are 5-10 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 5-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 1-5 p.m. Sunday.
ealvero@the-journal.com
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