XIT starts Saturday with junior rodeo
BY BILL KELLY
Dalhart Texan
The 90th Annual XIT Rodeo & Reunion starts this Saturday, August 1 with the junior rodeo. Rodeo stars under the age of 18 will have a chance to show off their skills during the annual event.
The junior rodeo includes two different age groups. The young- est kids compete in a stick-pony rodeo on the grass just north of the actual arena. The events include pole bending, barrel racing, and removing a ribbon from a goat’s tail. This age group will also start off the rodeo with mutton bustin’ in the arena, riding a sheep as long as possible.
Older kids compete in traditional rodeo events in the arena, including breakaway roping, calf roping, steer riding, barrel rac- ing, etc.
Registration for the junior rodeo is from 7:30-8 a.m. for those who didn’t enter online. The rodeo itself begins at 9 a.m., and lasts until all the events are fin- ished, which is usually early in the afternoon.
The next event is team roping, which will be held on Sunday August 2. Books open at 9 a.m. and roping starts at 10 a.m. PRCA steer roping and timed event slack/breakaway roping will be held on Wednesday August 5 at 8 a.m.
The main part of XIT begins Thursday Au- gust 6. The queen con- test will be held that morning at the arena at 8:30 a.m., and the wa- termelon feed will be from 4-6 p.m. The rodeo begins that evening at 7 p.m., with Dustin De la Garza performing after the rodeo at the dance. The pork chop feed is from 4-6 p.m. on Fri- day August 7, with the rodeo starting at 7 p.m. again. Friday is also Pink-Out Night at the rodeo, which includes raising funds for “Give Cancer the Boot.” Jason Boland and the Stranglers will perform at the dance after the rodeo.
Saturday August 8 is the biggest of the week- end. The XIT Empty Saddle One-Mile Fun Run and 5K begins at 7 a.m. at the Pavilion, and the XIT Arts & Crafts Show starts at 9 a.m. at the 7th Street Park, lasting until 5 p.m. The XIT Parade begins at 10 a.m. and goes down Denrock Avenue.
The World’s Largest Free BBQ will be from 4-6 p.m. on Saturday, and the new XIT Rodeo Queen will be crowned at 6 p.m. in the arena. The rodeo is again from 7-9 p.m., and the dance afterwards will feature Josh Feathers.
There are also some events that take place throughout the weekend. The XIT Museum will host an open house Thursday through Saturday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. each day, with the featured ex- hibit being “50 Years of the XIT Museum.” The XIT Melodrama will be performed at 7 p.m. at the La Rita Theatre at 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, with a 2 p.m. matinee on Satur- day.
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