Family fun at the North Washington Rodeo
WASHINGTON TWP — As a child, Brenda Lutz, of New Brighton, would watch people chase a greased pig through the arena of the North Washington Rodeo. She recalled how sheep riding — a favorite with the children — used to be one of the features, though “you couldn’t do that today,” she said.
For the most part, the annual event, now in its 63d year, has preserved the spirit of the rodeo from years past: Even the rain, which poured down on eager attendees before the event Tuesday, Aug. 15, was familiar to Lutz as she recalled a particularly rainy day at the rodeo in her childhood with clowns skiing in mud as she waited for the rain to pass with her family and other participants under the announcer’s tent.
A love for horses is what drew Lutz to the rodeo when she was younger, she said, and the hobby is shared by her granddaughter, who started horseback riding this year. Lutz, who was joined by her four grandchildren, son and daughter-in-law at the event, said she enjoyed that the event is family friendly.
“I’m here for the kids,” she said.
Prynn Rankin, 10, of Karns City, said she was mostly looking forward to the barrel racing. This isn’t Prynn’s first rodeo, and horseback riding isn’t new to her either. Prynn has participated in a competition at Buckhorn Ranch in West Sunbury, and at a western pleasure show, having started horseback riding at just 3 years old, she said.
Prynn’s father, Jason Rankin, said Prynn’s mother was Rodeo Queen at the event in the early 2000s, and at home the family tends to horses, cows and chickens.
The rodeo gene runs in the family. In braids, overalls, boots and a cowboy hat gifted by her mother, Prynn fit right in as contestants from states including Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Oklahoma and Louisiana — many of them donning cowboy hats — rode into the other side of the arena to compete in steer wrestling, breakaway roping, saddle bronc riding, barrel racing and more.
David Hazlet, chairman of the rodeo, said the excitement is what brings people from around Pennsylvania and the country to the event.
“It’s something from the West that you can see in the East,” rodeo announcer Jerry Todd said. “We’re more used to seeing this in Texas.”
The crowd cheered and clapped as each competing division was announced, but the shouts grew louder each time Todd announced a contestant from Pennsylvania.
The rodeo, which started in 1959, is the biggest rodeo in the Eastern part of the United States, Todd said.
The rodeo will run through Saturday and remains the biggest annual fundraiser for the North Washington Volunteer Fire Department. Tickets are $18 for adults and $9 for children ages 4 to 12.
