Annual Halfway River Rodeo to honour late organizer with events, gala

WONOWON, B.C. — A tradition for the people of Halfway River First Nation is its annual rodeo, which will take place throughout this coming weekend.

Final preparations are already underway, with organizer Kendall Hunter saying up to 300 entries per day will participate throughout the four-day event.

“It’s one of the largest events that the community puts on,” said Hunter. “Chief and council and community members really take it to heart to put on a big show.

“The popularity of the rodeo comes from [the rodeo] reoccurring. People who graduated from high school rodeo [and] moved on to college rodeo [or] pro rodeo, they all come back for the Halfway River Rodeo, because it’s home. We always have them returning each year.” 

Like last year, the event will begin with memorial festivities honouring the late Jeffrey Metecheah, a former organizer for the event who passed away in 2024.

On Thursday, August 21st, an American Bucking Bull Inc (ABBI) event will be held starting at 11 a.m. 

The event will see an apparatus fastened to the back of a bull, which bucks by itself while being scored.

This will be followed in the evening by a gala and dance at Fort St. John’s Pomeroy Hotel and Conference Centre starting at 5 p.m., accompanied by a silent auction benefitting the Halfway River Rodeo Club. Tickets are $100 for the event.

Various rodeo events will take place on Friday, August 22nd from 10 a.m. with a gymkhana event and another ABBI bull bucking event, the Canadian maiden for younger bulls, scheduled for 1 p.m.

Competitions in bull riding, bareback riding, saddle bronc, barrel racing, steer wrestling and more for both junior and senior riders will take place on Saturday, August 23rd, and Sunday, August 24th, with cash of up to $2,500 per day on the line.

Admission is by cash only and is $15 for a daily pass or $25 for a weekend pass. Children between six and 12 years are $5, while all children under six and Elders are free. 

A breakfast will be provided for both Saturday and Sunday, with junior events beginning at 10 a.m. and senior events beginning at 1 p.m.

The 23rd Halfway River Rodeo takes place from August 21st at the Halfway River Rodeo Grounds on the territory of HRFN in Wonowon.

Further details about the rodeo can be found on the event’s Facebook page.