Michael Willingham lifts the lid to examine his tri-tip during the Buckaroo BBQ Challenge at the Pendleton Convention Center on Saturday, May 1, 2021. This year’s challenge, held during Cattle Barons weekend, is April 30.

PENDLETON — Billed as “as Western as it gets,” Pendleton Cattle Barons weekend will bring select horses and ranch dogs, a Western trade show and a barbecue competition to the Pendleton Convention Center April 29-30.

Both Friday and Saturday have activities lined up from 7 a.m.-11 p.m.

“It’s going to be a full event,” said Carl Culham, the vice president of the board of directors for Pendleton Cattle Barons. “We’ve got everything planned that we normally do — we’re going to have the horse and dog sale, we’re going to have the ranch rodeo, we’re going to have the stock saddle bronc competition followed by a live band. It’s just a fun two days in Pendleton.”

Now in its 14th year, Pendleton Cattle Barons weekend showcases parts of the Western lifestyle, but it also raises money for scholarships: 100% of the proceeds go to scholarships for regional students attending college and majoring in agriculture.

“We do want to have fun, but the intention of Pendleton Cattle Barons weekend is to raise the scholarship funds,” Culham said. “That’s why we do it.”

Starting on Friday, the gates at the Pendleton Convention Center open at 7 a.m., and the schedule includes the trade show and previews of both the horses and working dogs. Friday also features the “Select Ranch Horse Sift,” a session to make sure all the horses in the sale meet the Cattle Barons standards.

The horse sale is by invitation only, and the sift makes sure all horses are still in the condition to be included.

“We use the term ‘select’ because we believe the horses that we have are the cream of the crop,” Culham said. “When we select a horse into the horse sale, it’s a select horse. Before the previews, they check all the horses for soundness and make sure they’re what we expected. If not, they’ll be sifted out of the sale.”

Friday night ends with the Northwest Farm Credit/Hodgen Distributing Ranch Rodeo — Team Branding, Trailer Loading, Team Sort and Roping Championships. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., and the event runs from 6-11 p.m.

Friday is called “a little quiet” compared to Saturday.

On Saturday, the gates again open at 7 a.m., and the first event — NWSRA Steer Roping — begins immediately after at 7:30 a.m. The trade and artistry show open at 9 a.m., and tickets for the annual Cattle Barons Buckaroo BBQ Challenge go on sale at 11 a.m.

Anyone can purchase a judging button for $5 to participate in the People’s Choice voting. Those participating can taste chicken, tri-tip and pork ribs from the contestants — and vote for their favorites.

The total prize pool for the Buckaroo BBQ Challenge this year is $5,000 — and bragging rights.

The action shifts back inside the Convention Center at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday when the introductions and presentation begin for the Pendleton Whisky Western Select Invitational Ranch Horse & Working Dog Sale.

After the sale is the Stock Saddle Bronc Championship — from 7-10 p.m. — and a live band with no cover charge from 10-11 p.m.

For those who have not participated in Cattle Barons weekend in the past, Culham recommended looking at the schedule and sampling some of the activities.

“A person could spend a full day at Cattle Barons on Saturday for sure. People coming to town can also make time to see what Pendleton’s made of,” he said. “Come and have some fun and spend a couple days in Pendleton.”

Find the full schedule and more information at www.cattlebarons.net.