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In addition to helping organize the Labor Day weekend rodeo with a handful of dedicated volunteers, Devine also acts as the announcer (usually with radio personality John Stevenson), serving up a heapin’ helpin’ of down-home Southern-style similes.
Devine, who works as a
La Crosse County sheriff’s deputy when he’s not getting the bucking broncs and bulls for the rodeo lined up, said it’s hard to believe he’s already up to 11 rodeos.
“We’re getting old,” he said. “It’s going good, though. ... We’re looking for a pretty good weekend.”
As in past years, the pole bending, barrel racing and goat-tying events have attracted a bumper crop of female entries. Devine said there will be almost 100 girls competing in the “speed arena.”
Among the girls competing are Jenna Johnson, Danna Jessie and Bailey Kyser, all students at Melrose-Mindoro High School who went to nationals this year, and the Kleinvachter twins, Amy and Chelsea, who live in Barre Mills.
Many of the dominant forces in other events — such as bull and bronc riding, steer wrestling and breakaway roping — graduated last year, Devine said, but new riders are coming up to take their places.
“We’ve got just a scad of new riders,” Devine said. “There’s a fresh crop of freshmen.”
One young steer wrestler people should watch, Devine said, is Keegan Kite, who comes from a rodeo dynasty of sorts.
“He’s a real dogger,” Devine said of Kite. “He will get down on a steer and flip him.”
Despite a decade of hosting high school rodeos at the Coulee Region Riders Club grounds in Holmen, there have been very few rodeo participants from close to home, and Devine would like to see that change.
Youngsters don’t even need to own a horse to participate in some of the events, such as bull and bronc riding. “You’ve got to be athletic, you’ve got to be in shape, and you’ve got to have a lot of character,” Devine said.
People who want to mingle with the rodeo riders might want to hit the traditional Saturday night dance at the Holmen American Legion.
As in past years, the Holmen rodeo kicks off tonight with cutting, an event that requires riders to isolate cattle through creative and skilled horsemanship.
The rodeo also will feature two full days of events on Saturday and Sunday.
If you go
WHAT: Western Wisconsin Regional High School Rodeo.
WHEN: Today, Saturday and Sunday, with today’s competition starting at 6:30 p.m.; main events start at 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, with “slack” barrel racing and pole bending starting at 9 a.m. Saturday and breakaway roping starting at
9 a.m. Sunday.
WHERE: Coulee Region Rider’s Club Grounds, N6350 Briggs Road, Holmen, Wis.
COST: Friday night is free; daily admission for Saturday and Sunday is $5; free for those younger than 6 and older than 100.
Randy Erickson is editor at the Holmen Courier.
