The 16th Annual Blue Ridge Kiwanis Championship Rodeo was held this past weekend on Friday, August 17th, and on Saturday, August 18th at the Blue Ridge Kiwanis Fairgrounds.The annual championship rodeo is one of the major fundraisers sponsored by the Blue Ridge Kiwanis Club each year for the Kiwanis youth service international organization. In addition, all proceeds from the event go to many youth organizations in the local community such as the Crisis Response Network, Open Arms Care Corporation, the Boy and Girl Scouts of America, the Empty Stocking Fund, and also several different high school programs.

“We put anywhere from $50,000 to $75,000 a year back into the community from our fundraising efforts,”

said Kevin Panter of the Blue Ridge Kiwanis Club.

At the event, the Blue Ridge Kiwanis Rodeo by partnering with Circle “n” Rodeo Productions was able to feature about 135 different contestants from the International Professional Rodeo Association ranging in whereabouts from as far as Hico, Texas and as close as North Georgia.

Winners from the Saturday night event in their separate categories are listed below:

Prior to the rodeo events, the Blue Ridge Kiwanis Rodeo also provided special kids activities such as mechanical bull riding, a Eurobungy ride, pony riding and also offered different types of food from several different types of food vendors.

Other highlights during the event included the kid’s calf scramble; the lady’s calf scramble, the steer dressing contest, and the Kiwanis Rodeo boot toss contest, where one contestant had a chance to win a 2012 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck from Mountain Valley Motors by tossing a size 10 cowboy boot correctly from 45 feet away into a 55 gallon barrel. Although unfortunately the contestant did not ride away in the 2012 Dodge Ram 1500, however, they did walk away with a good memory.

The Blue Ridge Kiwanis Rodeo would like to thank everyone who came out to the event and also invite everyone out in advance to attend their upcoming carnival fair in September.

For pictures of the Blue Ridge Kiwanis Rodeo please view the slideshow below.