Rochester rodeo to debut June 14

ROCHESTER — Saddle up for a summer of rodeos.

On Saturday, June 14, the New England Rodeo is opening its gates in Rochester for the first time.

The event, which begins at 5 p.m. at the Rochester Fairgrounds at 65 Pine Street, is the first of the season, with rodeos set to take place every other weekend until Sept. 30.

The rodeo is coming to Rochester after the Select Board approved a license agreement with the New England Rodeo for temporary use of the Rochester Fairgrounds.

Kelly Pina, the New England Rodeo strategic advisor and producer said that getting the rodeo organized has been a “great time.”

“We’re really excited to partner with a town that’s so welcoming and excited about this,” she said.

The rodeo will feature numerous events and guests, including a rodeo clown, a youth rodeo that begins at 6 p.m. and the professional rodeo.

Gates will open at 5 p.m. on opening day with tickets, which are cash only, for sale at the gate.

While the barrel racers warm up for their events, there will be games for kids and entertainment from Sheriff Knucklehead & Pinky.

“That brings in crowds and for kids ages 10 and under to join in the arena and interact with our rodeo clown,” Pina said.

A youth rodeo will begin around 6 p.m., which will consist of mini barrel racing for kids 10-years-old and under and junior barrel racing for older kids and mini bronc riding.

“It gives them a little bit of a better preparation for eventually becoming junior bull riders,” Pina said.

There will also be a mounted shooting competition demonstration where Craig McCoskery will shoot at balloons with a black powder set of rifles and a shotgun.

Pina emphasized that the animals are the rodeo’s “first priority.”

“We treat them just like our pets and they are well nourished, taken care of, just like any other athlete, make sure that we give them the best of care so that they can perform their job to the best of their abilities,” she said.

Also at the rodeo will be food trucks, vendors, community groups and charities, such as Rochester’s Parent-Teacher Organization and a veteran’s program that will collect money to send veterans to a wilderness camp.

There will also be a mechanical bull named Bucky for attendees to ride.

“Our mechanical bull is different than what you would see at a regular carnival,” Pina said. “This is an actual training bull that’s designed to simulate the actions of a real bull.”

She added that it’s a great training tool for bull riders that also gives audience members an idea of what riding a real bull would feel like.

The night will end with a meet and greet with audience members, announcers and bullfighters.

“It should be a great time. We’re really excited,” Pina said.