Four Days of Excitement: Ramona Rodeo Begins May 8
By Regina Elling

File Photo by John JOnes

Thursday, May 8

Rodeo Kickoff Party - Mega Mixer

6 p.m. at Fred Grand Arena

Sponsored by the Ramona Chamber of Commerce

Friday, May 9

6 p.m. Lawn Mower Races

7:30 p.m. Rodeo Performance (gates open at 5 p.m.)

Dance Immediately following Rodeo

Saturday, May 10

6 p.m. Lawn Mower Races

7:30 p.m. Rodeo Performance (gates open at 5 p.m.)

Dance Immediately following Rodeo

Sunday, May 11

12 p.m. Kids Day at the Rodeo (gates open at 11:30 a.m.)

One child (12 & under) admission free with each paid adult

Free cowboy hat or rope to first 200 kids in the arena

2:30 p.m. Final Rodeo Performance

General Admission Friday $12, Saturday $15, Sunday $10

Preferred tickets Friday $15, Saturday $18, Sunday $12.

VIP tickets $75.

Thrilling performances, hard bucking livestock, fast scores, dances, vendors, great food and more are part of the 2008 Ramona Rodeo. This year, the Rodeo features four days packed full of both familiar and new events.

"We've expanded and added so many new things this year, we think rodeo fans are just going to love it even more," says Teri Davis, executive board member of the Rodeo Committee.

The Ramona Rodeo officially begins Thursday, May 8, with a kickoff party sponsored by the Ramona Chamber of Commerce and Cheers. The party begins at 6 p.m. at the Fred Grand Arena on Aqua Lane.

The opening performance of the rodeo will be Friday, May 9. The gates open at 5 p.m., with the lawn mower races beginning at 6 p.m. The rodeo begins at 7:30 p.m. Immediately following the rodeo will be a free dance at the Jewelry World and Loan pavilion, featuring the High Rolling Loners.

Saturday's events and times are similar, with the theme for the night being Tough Enough to Wear Pink. The campaign aims to help show support in the fight against breast cancer. The free dance immediately following the night's events will feature Hill Country.

Rodeo events both nights include steer wrestling, team roping, tie-down roping, barrel racing and bareback, saddle bronc and bull riding.

Sunday, May 11, the gates open at 11:30 a.m. and Kids Day at the Rodeo begins at noon.

For this special day, one child (age 12 or under) receives free admission with each paid adult admission. There will be free cowboy hats given to the first 100 kids in the gate and free cowboy ropes to the first 100 kids in the arena. Kid's Day is sponsored by Mountain Valley Ranch.

Special events just for the youngsters include dummy roping, dummy calf and goat tying, broomstick horse race, calf roping with the "roll 'o roper" and bull riding with a barrel.

Sunday's final rodeo performance will be at 2:30 p.m., and there will be two new events added to the roster.

"For Sunday only, we have added junior team roping and junior tie-down roping," says Davis. "Ramona youth participating include Marcus Battaglia, Cameron Elston and Mason Malone. Other youth are from Descanso, Lakeside and Riverside."

Since the Rodeo this year falls on Mother's Day, another special attraction has been added to the fun. "As our Mother's Day special, we will be awarding three special spa packages.

Ramona Rodeo's stock contractor is Honeycutt Rodeo, Inc. Roy Honeycutt will be arriving in town with several loads of excellent bucking broncs and bulls.

Tickets are available in Ramona at Albertsons, Branding Iron, Catt Farm and Ranch Supply, Diamond D Feed and Supply, Elston Hay and Grain, Kahoots Animals and Supplies, The

Livery, Ramona Chamber of Commerce and Ramona Pharmacy, and at Boot

Barn in El Cajon. Tickets can also be bought by e-mailing: shawna@ramonarodeo.com.

Prices vary according to which rodeo day and which type of seating are chosen. Children age five and under are admitted free. VIP seating and tables and preferred seating are also available.

"This year, the Ramona Outdoor Community Center, which manages the Fred Grand Arena, has done an outstanding job improving the rodeo grounds," says Davis. "For the preferred section, they have added sod, enclosed the area and they have their own bar. It's beautiful and is right up against the bucking chute; it's second only to the VIP section."

VIP and Preferred seating tickets are only available from the Ramona Chamber of Commerce office or from the Web site. For more informationabout the 2008 Ramona Rodeo, visit www.ramonarodeo.com.