Summer may be in the rearview mirror, but that doesn't mean the rodeo season has packed up and gone home. In fact, the Nevada High School Rodeo season is just revving up, and professional cowboys and cowgirls across the country are gearing up for the National Rodeo Finals slated for December. Right here in Fallon, Cody and Kristina de Golyer are pulling out all the stops as they prepare to host their 14th rough stock rodeo on October 21, right under the open sky at the Churchill County Fairgrounds.
Not too long ago, however, the de Golyers were wrangling with doubts about whether they could pull off their annual fall rodeo. Luckily for Fallon, destiny decided to lend a helping hand – or more accurately, it was the good vibes and generosity flowing from Troy's Double Shot bar, a fixture at de Golyer events since day one. On top of that, the City of Fallon has jumped into the arena with a tourism grant, and a posse of local businesses, passionate about rodeo and the Western way of life in Nevada, have joined forces to sponsor the event.
This year's rough stock rodeo promises a wild ride for folks of all ages, featuring the heart-pounding spectacle of bull riding, bronc riding, women's bronc riding, saddle cow riding, junior steer riding, calf riding, and even the cuteness overload of mutton busting. However, you might want to mosey on elsewhere if you expect to see timed events like team roping, calf roping, and steer wrestling.
According to Kristina, they're bringing back barrel racing by popular demand, giving the non-rough stock inclined ladies a chance to show their rodeo mettle. A local business has stepped up to the plate, covering the extra prize money and the event buckle – it's a win-win-win situation for the de Golyers, the cheering crowd, and the speed-chasing barrel racers.
The rodeo fun will kick off in style on October 20 with dinner, dancing, and drinks at the Barn Dance and BBQ. Kristina shared, “It was great to see random people coming in and sitting down to have dinner with each other – people they have never met.” Last year's barbecue was such a blast that they've decided to give it an encore. Catered by the talented Shelly Gallagher and her Wild Horse Café, you can bet the grub will be as awesome as the bull-riding action that stole the show during the June de Golyer Bull Bash – a shut-out for all the bull riders, none of which ever managed an eight-second ride.
The barn dance was another big hit last year, according to Kristina, so they're cranking up the excitement for a repeat performance on Friday night following the BBQ. “We want kids and families to come and join in,” Kristina shared. This time, the spotlight will shine on Leeteville Junction, a fantastic local band performing at their first de Golyer event.
But wait, there's more. The festivities are set to include a free Kids Zone (included in the purchase of rodeo tickets), craft vendors to satisfy your shopping cravings, delicious food trucks to tame your growling stomachs, and even heart-pounding chariot races. And because we're in the spirit of Halloween, kids are encouraged to get into the spooky groove with a costume contest and some good old-fashioned Trick-or-treating.
Kristina said, "We love hosting a fall event, one where the weather is crisp, and everyone can rock their jeans, boots, and cozy sweatshirts." But above all, what the de Golyers cherish most is bringing the tight-knit community of Fallon together for a healthy dose of hometown fun. “Without you all having faith in us to create these nights of entertainment for you, your friends and family, our community – it would not be possible to do this kind of event.”
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