Press Releases

PARKER RANCH ROUND-UP CLUB LABOR DAY WEEKEND RODEO FAST APPROACHING

Event Entry Deadline August 18

Waimea, Hawai‘i’s Big Island ~ The 34th Annual Parker Ranch Round-Up Club Rodeo will lasso in two days of rodeo events on Saturday, August 30 and Sunday, August 31, 2008 at the Parker Ranch Rodeo Arena in Waimea.

The action-packed weekend is held annually as a fundraiser to provide scholarships for school-age children of Parker Ranch employees. This year, the event joins all of Hawaii in its celebration of 2008 as The Year of the Paniolo.

Entries for the rodeo must be postmarked by August 14 or hand delivered to Parker Ranch headquarters no later than August 18. Forms are available at Waimea Feed Supply or RR Olson in Waimea, Hog Wild Feed & Supply in Honokaa, Miranda Country Store or Del’s Farm Supply in Hilo and King’s Trail Ride in Kealakekua.

Family-style fun begins on Saturday, August 30 at 12 noon with rodeo events which may include everything from open and dally team roping, steer wrestling and double mugging, and po’o wai u, to bull riding, junior bull riding, wahine barrel racing, wahine steer un-decorating, and more. Always fun and exciting to watch is the makule team roping competition. (One team member must be over 40, one over 50). The crowd is always on its feet for the the keiki barrel racing for participants 12 & under, and mutton busting (keiki sheep riding).

Sunday’s action begins again at high noon with more rodeo action throughout the afternoon. Ono (delicious) food and refreshments will be available both days with on-going events lasting until 4:00 p.m.

Tickets are $5 per person in advance from the Parker Ranch Store at the Parker Ranch Center, Waimea or $6 at the gate on rodeo days. Children 10 and under are free. For more information, call 808-885-5669.

Parker Ranch, founded in 1847, celebrated 160 years of Paniolo heritage in 2007 and joins Hawaii in celebrating the Year of the Paniolo in 2008. The ranch, among the largest and most historic ranches in the U.S., surrounds the town of Waimea and spans thousands of acres across the island between the Kohala Mountains and Mauna Kea. The rodeo grounds are 37 miles by car from Kona International Airport and 57 miles from Hilo Airport on Highway 190.