JOSEPH — After a year’s delay rodeo fans are fired up for the 75th Chief Joseph Days Rodeo — four nights of pro rodeo action with nearly $45,000 in prize money.

The first Chief Joseph Days Rodeo was held in 1946 on Wallowa Lake’s East Moraine. In 1947 it was sanctioned by the Pro Rodeo Cowboy Association and still is today, bringing in some of the best cowboys and cowgirls in the nation.

The traditional kickoff is the Bucking Horse Stampede down Joseph’s Main Street Tuesday, July 27, starting at 1:30 p.m. Get a good spot early to watch wild horses running from the south end of town to the rodeo grounds off Alder Street.

On Wednesday rodeo action begins in the Harley Tucker Arena at 9 a.m. with the Chief Joseph Days Little Buckaroo Rodeo just for special needs children and adults. This event is free to participate and to attend as a spectator. Come cheer on these athletes as they compete in goat tail untying, stick horse barrel racing, a bouncy horse race, dummy roping, dummy bull riding and horseback riding.

Eligible participants in the Little Buckaroo Rodeo, preschool age through adult, each will receive a cowboy hat, T-shirt, bandana and a lariat. For more information contact Debbie Scudder at scudderdeb6@gmail.com or 509-629-2616, or Erin Freels at erin@bisnett.com or 541-377-0140.

Slack rodeo for the timed events begins at 2 p.m. Wednesday. That evening is the first night of pro rodeo action — gates open at 6 p.m. and the rodeo starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 for general admission; ages 6 and younger attend for free. The performance is followed by a family dance at the Thunder Room where a mechanical bull is available at no charge for the kids.

Thursday’s events begin at 9 a.m. with the “Miles for Mammogram” walk. Visit www.chiefjosephdaysrodeo.com for more details.

Slack rodeo resumes at 2 p.m. Thursday, and at 7 p.m. the nightly performance begins with the theme “Tough Enough to Wear Pink,” dedicated to women’s cancer health. The cowboys and cowgirls, officials, rodeo court and volunteers will all be wearing pink and encourage fans to do the same. General admission is $15. Dance to live music after the rodeo in the Thunder Room.

Friday’s activities start at 5:30 a.m. with the American Legion breakfast at the rodeo grounds. At 10 a.m. the Kiddie Parade down Joseph’s Main Street starts.

That afternoon, slack is at 2 p.m. followed by the rodeo competition at 7 p.m. Dance into the wee hours with music performed by Whiskey Creek at the Thunder Room.

Saturday morning is the Chief Joseph Days grand parade with Nez Perce in native regalia, rodeo courts from around the region and dozens of entertaining entries, led by Larry Bacon, this year’s grand marshal. Get a spot early to get the best view.

The final slack competition of the weekend is at 2 p.m. At 3 p.m., head over to the Encampment Pavilion adjacent to the rodeo arena for traditional tribal dancing and music.

At 7 p.m. Saturday, the final session of pro rodeo action begins followed by another night of music by Whiskey Creek at the Thunder Room and a teen dance at the Joseph Community Center.

The Cowboy Breakfast begins after the rodeo and continues throughout the night.

For Friday and Saturday night tickets, call the rodeo office at 541-432-1015.

July 27-Aug. 1

Joseph

www.chiefjosephdaysrodeo.com