PRESENT and former rodeo queens Gaynor Dalle-Nogare and Jo Kestel will lead a team of eight girls on horseback to signal the start of the Wagin Woolorama rodeo.

Wagin Woolorama will stage a rodeo on the Saturday as a grand finale to the annual show.

On being approached by the National Rodeo Council, the Woolorama committee enthusiastically got behind the idea.

“We’ve often thought that the last afternoon was an anti-climax and we’ve been looking at ways to keep patrons on the showgrounds, so when we were offered the rodeo we grasped it with both hands,” Woolorama president Chris Moffatt said.

The rodeo will be staged by the West Australian Division of the National Rodeo Council which will provide $4000 in prize money.

The rodeo council will set up portable yards and all facilities and the Woolorama committee will cart sand to create a 100mm pad, to be located near the old drive-in cinema to the rear of the showgrounds.

A former rodeo queen and promotions officer for the council, Jo Kestel said they are always looking for new venues to stage rodeos due to the popularity of the spectator sport.

“We’ll have between 50 and 60 riders, some quality horses and some high quality bulls which will include Brahman, Brahman Cross and other breeds,” she said.

“There will be an opportunity for local riders to show their skills by entering the barrel races.

“Mutton busters, where kids hang onto a lump of wool, will be available for children.”

There will be a licensed bar and food outlets and a live band will play until late. Hay bales and low loaders will provide seating for spectators.

All competitors will be insured by the council which has public liability to cover spectators.

Locals who enter the barrel races may become day-members to gain insurance.

The rodeo entry fee is $20 for adults and $5 for children. Patrons to Woolorama on the Saturday who pay general admittance will be issued with a wristband and will be admitted to the rodeo for $5.

Crowned on New Year’s Eve, Ms Dalle-Nogare, a former jockey and currently Rodeo Barrel Racing champion, will accompany Woolorama’s Rural Ambassador Londa Finlayson, helping to promote the rodeo during Woolorama.

Ms Kestel, a former State rodeo queen, contested her title in Queensland and on winning represented Australia in Canada at the Calgary Stampede.

“If the rodeo is successful we hope to build on it and make it a regular event,” Ms Kestel said.

The rodeo will start at 4 pm on Saturday, March 8.