By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Deidre Moran was planning rodeo's big return to Great Bend with the late Edgar Jacobs before his unexpected death in January. But the show must go on. Moran turned to family and friends to attract some of the top riders in the country for the Bulls, Broncs, & Barrells Finals Rodeo coming to Expo III just west of Great Bend on Saturday, Dec. 14. It will be the largest rodeo in Great Bend in more than a decade.
"This is kind of the best of the best," Moran said. "We've got cowboys and cowgirls from all over the states: Wyoming, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas."
Moran manages the Odin Rodeo Grounds and has worked on renovating that property for half a decade. The grounds are suitable most of the year but no one wants to rodeo in Kansas' winter weather.
"We needed a finals event and, of course, the Odin Rodeo Grounds is an outdoor facility so I called the city of Great Bend and we needed an indoor facility," Moran said. "Expo III it is."
The insulated Expo III will feature Cowboy Christmas shopping vendors featuring western gear, baked goods, and arts and crafts. Mama C's will be serving barbecue and homemade mac n cheese and pies. Sarge's Saloon will provide the beer garden, all inside Expo III and away from the elements.
Cash prizes will be handed out in several events including bucking bulls and broncs, calf riding, steer riding, junior bulls, open bull riding, and ranch bronc and saddle bronc riding.
The final day of the National Finals Rodeo, the largest rodeo in Las Vegas, is that Saturday, and the event will be livestreamed onto projectors inside Expo III.
Gates open at 4 p.m. with the rodeo to follow after 6:30. Cost of admission is $15 for adults and $5 for children under 12. This is a cash-only event.