GRAND ISLAND — Sutton Rodeo is gearing up to present Rodeo Grand Island for the sixth year at the Heartland Events Center in February.
Steve Sutton, with Sutton Rodeo, said they were putting on their Rodeo Rapid City event several years ago and it was attended by a group of Grand Island leaders who wanted Sutton Rodeo to bring their event to Grand Island.
That was the start of a supportive partnership that is now in its sixth year.
Rodeo Grand Island this year takes place on Friday, Feb. 23 and Saturday, Feb. 24, with some slack events occurring earlier on Thursday, Feb. 22, all in the Eihusen Arena.
Friday’s events will kick off at 7:30 p.m. with the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA) Xtreme Bulls which will feature 40 bull riding contestants with money won counting toward the PRCA’s 2024 Xtreme Bull Tour and National Finals Rodeo Championship titles.
There will be PRCA Rodeo two performances on Saturday at 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. PRCA contestants will compete in all seven rodeo events: Bareback, Tie Down, Saddle Bronc, Steer Wrestling, Team Roping, Barrel Racing and Bull Riding.
“Over 400 PRCA contestants will enter, including World Champions, Wrangler National Finals Qualifiers and Circuit Champions competing for prize money to carry them to a 2024 championship title at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas,” Sutton Rodeo noted.
Rodeo personnel will include Bullfighters, Specialty Acts and Rodeo Queens.
The announcer for Rodeo Grand Island will be Kory Keeth.
“Kory takes pride in being sure he knows as much as possible about every contestant. On top of his announcing career, Kory enjoys operating the family Cow/calf operation as well as playing music and speaking at various church services at home and on the road,” the Rodeo Grand Island website stated.
The music director will be Jake Ostrum.
The specialty act will be presented by Rider and Bethany Keiser, who earned the 2020 PRCA Dress Act of the Year.
“Jake has been a part of pretty much every aspect of rodeo from announcing to actually producing his own rodeo events. However, his heart kept bringing him back to his true passion of music,” the Rodeo Grand Island site stated.
Rodeo Grand Island will feature entertainment suitable for the whole family, Sutton said.
Tickets are available at the Fonner Park Box Office, www.ticketmaster.com, or charge-by-phone at 800-745-3000.
Sutton said they are in the business of producing good rodeo and noted this is a chance to see contestants early in the year who are working to make their way to the finals. He noted Rodeo Grand Island last year featured a performance from a contestant who would go on to be the world champion bull rider.
Sutton said the Grand Island has been put on the map as a rodeo destination.
“Rodeo Grand Island, produced by Sutton Rodeo of Onida, S.D. Sutton Rodeo is a sixth-generation rodeo company, founded in 1926, best known for award winning PRCA events including Top Large Indoor Rodeo of the Year, Bucking Stock of the Year and Hall of Fame Stock Contractor James Sutton, Sr. and Jim Sutton, Jr. Official website link: http: www.suttonrodeo.com,” per Sutton Rodeo.