The 68th annual Kingfisher Rodeo will be held this weekend at the Kingfi sher Roundup Club.

Events begin at 8 p.m. each night, with a pre-show at 7:45 p.m.

The rodeo is sanctioned by the International Professional Rodeo Association (IPRA) and the Kansas Professional Rodeo Association (KPRA).

Events this year include saddle bronc riding, bareback riding, bull riding, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, team roping, breakaway roping and barrel racing.

There will also be junior barrels and mutton busting each night.

Rockin’ R Pro Rodeo Co. is the stock contractor for the rodeo.

Doing much of the behind the scenes work for the Rockin’ R team, Kingfisher’s Sherrie Cross serves as secretary for the rodeo.

Her father, Floyd Cross, was a founding member of the Kingfisher Roundup Club and also instrumental in getting the rodeo started many years ago.

Linda Grellner-Walck, an Okarche native, and her husband Elved Walck also work with the stock contractor and will be supplying the bucking bulls each night for competition.

“We have lots of stock that makes it to the International Finals Rodeo in Guthrie every year,” Cross said.

This year, Tuffy Smith will be providing entertainment as rodeo clown and barrel man, she said.

“He should be pretty funny and will keep the crowd entertained,” Cross added.

Jerry Taylor and Chantz Whitehead will be bullfighters for the rodeo.

David Craig of Okarche and PRCA and IPRA world champion bareback rider, Clint Corey, will serve as judges for the event.

Cross also noted a strong local contingent will be taking part in this year’s rodeo events.

Entries include contestants from all over the area including Kingfisher, Okarche and Crescent.

On Friday, Kingfisher’s Monty McNair and Wyatt Hershberger of Guthrie will compete in the team roping.

Madison Lawther of Cashion, Kayla Kremeier of Okarche and Kadie Gibson of Crescent will be racing barrels.

The breakaway roping will feature Addyson O’Dell of Kingfisher.

Saturday’s tie down roping will include Okarche’s Toby Rochelle and Cody Dunn of Crescent.

Competing in the team roping will be Dallen Barton and Tate Barton of Kingfisher. Tate Barton will also team up with Brady Mc-Lemore of Gracemont for the event and Kingfisher’s Nate Kirtley will enter the team roping with Austin Rogers of Crescent.

Kingfisher’s Luie Torres will be featured in the final night of bull riding.

Additionally, Kaitlyn Washburn, the granddaughter of the late Floyd and Bernice Cross and daughter of Shawn and Natalie Cross, will be competing in Saturday’s breakaway roping. Her husband, Hunter, will also be taking part in the steer wrestling on that night.

Cross said the Roundup Club held a qualifying team roping event last weekend with over 100 teams entered. The top 10 will be competing for $500 prize money at the rodeo.

The Roundup Club is also sponsoring a raffle each night for a pellet grill and tickets can be purchased at the gate.

Saturday will also see a rodeo queen and princess crowned for this year’s event.

Queen contestants are ages 14 to 25 and those seeking the princess title are 13 and under.

Vying for queen this year is Natalie Chartier. She’s the daughter of Nathan and Carmen Chartier. Chartier is a 2022 graduate of Covington-Douglas High School and is currently employed at Black Forest Décor in Enid.

Avah Bennett threw her hat in for the princess title this year. She’s the 13-yearold daughter of Larra Koehn and Douglas Bennett. Bennett is currently a freshman at Pioneer-Pleasant Vale High School.

Cross encourages everyone to come out to support the rodeo and enjoy the competition.

“It should be a really good show,” she said.

“Rockin’ R prides itself on putting on a quality show.”