The first Saskatchewan OUTBACK KCRA Rodeo in Carrot River could potentially be the 2018 Community Event of the Year (Outback KCRA Rodeo/Facebook).

By Aaron Schulze

Carrot River Rodeo Award

Carrot River rodeo nominated for Saskatchewan Tourism award

Mar 5, 2019 | 3:00 PM

The Saskatchewan OUTBACK KCRA Rodeo is full of steers. However, organizers are full of cheers after some unexpected good news.

Tourism Saskatchewan announced on Tuesday, March 5 that the rodeo in Carrot River is one of three finalists for the Community Event of the Year Award as part of the Saskatchewan Tourism Awards of Excellence for 2018.

Jackie James, president of the Saskatchewan OUTBACK Rodeo Committee which organizes the event, told northeastNOW the news came as a shock to her while she was doing house chores in the morning.

“This is a total surprise to us,” James said. “We won rodeo of the year for KCRA, so that took us by surprise too. It’s a big honour to be nominated for that award; there were a lot of nominees and to be a part of that is great for our community and our rodeo too.”

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2018 was the first year the committee put on the Saskatchewan OUTBACK KCRA Rodeo. James said the rodeo brought in 800 to 1,000 people during the August weekend it was held in, which according to the 2016 Census is within range of Carrot River’s population.

The Saskatchewan OUTBACK KCRA Rodeo will return to Carrot River for its second year from the Aug. 17 to 18 weekend. James said rodeo events such as steer wrestling, bull riding, bronco riding, and barrel racing will run throughout the Aug. 17 afternoon with a cabaret in the evening. A family day is being planned for Aug. 18 featuring activities for kids.

When asked on potential expansion or extension of the rodeo, James said the committee’s current goal is to develop the sports ground and make it easier to use.

“25 to 30 years ago, it used to have chuck wagon races out there and it was a huge event, and ball tournaments,” she said. “Bringing the rodeo back to those grounds just get more use out of it. It’s good to bring people out to something new in the area and bring people to Saskatchewan’s outback.”

James and the rest of the Saskatchewan OUTBACK Rodeo Committee will wait until April 11 at Teacher’s Credit Union Place in Saskatoon for the 30th annual Saskatchewan Tourism Awards of Excellence Gala to see if they will win the Community Event of the Year Award.

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aaron.schulze@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @SchulzePANow