Burdick plans third revival of historic ranch rodeo
Staff writer
This year’s Diamond Valley Round Up will be Sunday and Monday in Burdick.
It will be the third ranch rodeo in Burdick since many years ago, when ranch rodeos faded from the community.
Sunday will include a 9:30 a.m. community church service at the tennis courts. Dinah Mombo, pastor of Burdick United Methodist Church, will conduct the service, and coffee and rolls will be provided. Those who plan to attend are being encouraged to bring their own chairs.
Registration for Sunday’s trap shoot will begin at 1 p.m. at 308 Reed St. The contest will begin at 2 p.m.
A two-mile fun run/walk will be at 8:30 a.m. Monday. Registration will be at 8 a.m. at the north end of Main St.
Anyone who runs out of energy will be able to replenish at 9 a.m. with rolls and coffee at the fire station.
Vendor booths will open at 10 a.m. at the shelter house. Registration may be made with Denise Wasson at (316) 293-8788.
Blind Barista coffee truck will be at the shelter house, and kids will have a bounce house, a double water slide, and a mini-train starting at 10:30 a.m.
The Justus Band will provide entertainment 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., taking a break at noon for a pie action.
Those who believe in eating the best part of their meal first will want to go to the fire station at 11 a.m. for homemade ice cream.
Lunch will be served for donations by Neosho Valley 4-H starting at 11:30 a.m.
A parade with cash prizes will begin at 2 p.m.
Flint Hills Community Band will perform in the park after the parade.
Kids will test their strength and endurance at a pedal pull at 3 p.m. Winners will be eligible to compete at the state fair. Registration will begin at the tennis court at 1:30 p.m.
Tickets to win handmade Adirondack gliding rockers will be sold during the pedal pull.
Winners of parade prizes and Adirondack gliding rockers will be announced during the pedal pull.
The day’s biggest event, the ranch rodeo, will begin at 4 p.m. at the ball field.
“The first year we had the rodeo, there were concerns that the stock might go over the fence,” Burdick Council of Clubs member Diana Jost said.
Burdick lays claim to being the home of the first rodeo in Kansas.
Legendary African American cowboy Bill Pickett, who invented bulldogging in the late 1800s, sometimes participated in ranch rodeos at Burdick.
“What they used to do, at the north end of Main St., they lined up cars, and the rodeo went on inside the cars,” Jost said.