Registration for the event begins at 3 p.m. near the arena entrance where parents will sign a release and each entrant will receive a numbered contestant back tag. The children will be divided into two age groups — 6-8 and 3-5.

Following the national anthem and a grand entry parade of the children, Shana Graham, sales and marketing manager for Painted Pony Pro Rodeo, will direct the activities. Among the games will be hula hoop roping, stick horse riding, and a boot and shoe race, with each child receiving a certificate and a bandana following the event.

Children are requested to dress in their best western wear as a championship belt buckle will be awarded to the best-dressed cowboy and cowgirl and a special secret prize will be handed out. Parents will be permitted into the arena and are urged to bring their cameras. Miss Rodeo New York and Lil’ Miss Rodeo First Frontier, as well as cowboys and cowgirls, will be present for autographs and photos with the youngsters.

Other children’s activities during the week include pony rides, face painting, sand art on the midway, and a calf scramble each night in the arena with children trying to capture ribbons tied to the calves’ tails.

The concession booths and the midway featuring 20 vendors and kids’ activities will be open following the children’s event.

The day’s activities will conclude with the barbecue beef dinners at 5 p.m. and the final rodeo performance at 8 p.m. with more than 220 pro cowboys and cowgirls competing for more than $45,000 in prize money.

RODEO ROYALTY

GERRY — Five young ladies who are members of rodeo’s royalty for 2018 will be a part of the festivities at the Gerry Volunteer Fire Department’s 74th annual pro rodeo this week.

Available for photos and autographs are Miss First Frontier Circuit, Brianna Fedorkowicz from Shelbyville, Delaware; and Little Miss First Frontier Circuit, Gabby Graham of Lake Luzerne, New York. The First Frontier Rodeo Circuit encompasses the original 13 colonies, and the girls were selected at the circuit finals in January.

Other queens attending are Crysta Carroll, Miss Rodeo New York; Kiara Scofield, Miss Teen Rodeo New York; and Danielle Thompson, Miss Rodeo Pennsylvania. Arrangements for their appearances were made through the Miss Rodeo New York organization in which Gerry’s fire chief Henry Millard is the fund-raising director.