157th Silver Spurs Rodeo rides into OHP this week

Weekend events kick off with Thursday’s Miss Silver Spurs Pageant

  • Women’s barrel racing will be a part of the 157th Silver Spurs Rodeo June 5-6. (File photo)
    Women’s barrel racing will be a part of the 157th Silver Spurs Rodeo June 5-6. (File photo)

    Society, and the landscape of Osceola County, have changed, but one thing remains constant—twice a year, it’s rodeo time at the Silver Spurs Arena!

    And, this weekend, the 157th installment of the Silver Spurs Rodeo makes its summer appearance.

    Since the first rodeo was held on July 4, 1944 as a World War II bond effort, the Silver Spurs Rodeo has become an iconic event, symbolizing the close-knit fabric of founding members of multigenerational families, who in turn have created new generations of rodeo fans. Proceeds from ticket sales support thousands of dollars in grants for area nonprofits and causes like scholarships, cancer support, military organizations, foster care, and more.

    The rodeo will crown a new female ambassador on Thursday when the weekend kicks off with the Miss Silver Spurs Pageant at 6 p.m. at the Silver Spurs Arena. The public is free to attend to see Jasmine Livingston hand the reigns off to the new Miss Silver Spurs, Junior Miss and Little Miss Silver Spurs.

    After the winners are announced, the Silver Spurs Rodeo takes over the arena with its traditional rodeo action on Friday and Saturday. The rodeo, one of Osceola County’s most cherished traditions, will showcase bull riding, bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, barrel racing, team roping, tiedown roping, women’s breakaway roping, and steer wrestling.

    Tickets for the rodeo are $15 for children ages 4-10 and $25 and $35 for Silver and Gold reserved seats on June 5, and $20 for all seats on June 6. Children 3 and under are free on a big pardner’s lap. Parking is free. Tickets are available exclusively at www.SilverSpursRodeo.com/ tickets.

    During the rodeo, the Silver Spurs Club wants to honor the sacrifice of military members in our community and beyond. So, for each night of the Silver Spurs Rodeo, veterans and active-duty military personnel may receive a free hot dog or hamburger with a drink. All they need to do to claim this deal is show proof of service at the box office with their ticket.

    And speaking of moving on, the event is Rodeo Big Boss Kaye Whaley’s “final act” as rodeo chair before passing the torch— hat? saddle?—on to “Little Boss” Henry Thacker.