Rodeo Alaska rides again in celebration of Wasilla’s centennial

WASILLA — The Wasilla Centennial Rodeo took place over the weekend, filling the area on the west side of the Curtis D. Menard Center with cowboys, cowgirls and little cowpokes, all performing a variety of spectacles. The event is both a segment of Wasilla’s centennial event series and also another stop for Rodeo Alaska’s Lithium RAM Champions Tour.

Valley residents got to see several different events, including bull riding, team roping, breakaway roping, chute dogging, calf riding, double mugging, barrel racing, ribbon roping, and mutton bustin’. There was even a fire twirling performance, rodeo style. Both Wasilla City Mayor Bert Cottle and Governor Bill Walker made guest appearances and took pictures with the Rodeo Alaska crew and contestants. In spite of one day of rain, the rodeo athletes performed all weekend and according to testimonies, they performed through all conditions with the same vigor and heart.

The rodeo athletes are all on the same tour around Alaska, Both adults and children as young as 14 months old, all competing for the best times. One contestant, Tonya Brewer said that the group of rodeo athletes were like a “little community.” Almost all of the same people travel together throughout the summer. She said that the people in Rodeo Alaska are like a family since they are shared support network.

“If anything happens to anyone, this whole community rallies,” Brewer said. “You’ve just never seen any community like a rodeo community rally, no matter what. You have all these people behind you,”

Most families in Rodeo Alaska share multiple members that participate in the events. She also noted how exceptional and capable the JR Rodeo riders were.

“The other thing is, raising your kids in this community; these are some really good kids. It’s a whole different set of kids are coming out of rodeo than any other sport,” Brewer said. “They have respect for people they have respect for animals, they have respect for everything. They take care of their animals- they’re hard workers.”

According to another contestant, Teresa Bitterich, it takes a lot of time and training to win these events. Bitterich won both barrel racing and the All Around Cowgirl Award. She said it’s all about hard work and having that bond with the horse.

“If the horse doesn’t want to go anywhere, he won’t. You have to form that bond,” Bitterich said.

The rodeo life is often carried down. JR Rodeo Rider, Frank “Buckshot” Koloski said he loved competing and riding the steers. It apparently is also another way to find that love connection. Another JR Rider, Sterling Fowlie said,“chicks dig it.”

Koloski agreed. “Yeah, it’s a great way to get a girlfriend,” he said.

According to Frank Koloski, owner and operator of Rodeo Alaska, the rodeo is not just about testing abilities, or having fun, but also about connection of their their little community to a little bigger one.

“Today is about bringing the community of Wasilla together again for a celebration for the centennial events that have been taking place thus far and it’s another great rodeo,” he said. “It’s a great setting, a great family event. We have it all for all the kids.” Rodeo Alaska’s next stop is at the Bear Paw Festival in Eagle River from July 14th to July 16th.

Upcoming schedule:

July 28th-30th Valdez Black Gold Rodeo – Valdez

August 4th – 6th Northern Most Rodeo in America – Fairbanks

August 25th – 27th RAM Champions Finals Rodeo – Palmer (Alaska State Fair)