Foot rodeo returns for Posse Grounds round two

The parks and recreation department is gearing up for its second annual Sedona Family Foot Rodeo.

Wait, a what?

“A foot rodeo is basically a rodeo complete with all of the events such as barrel racing, bull riding, roping and wild cow milking, but without the live animals,” Recreation Coordinator Ali Baxter said.

This year’s event, which is free to attend, is set for Friday, Aug. 17, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Posse Grounds Park. Baxter came up with the idea for the event last year after her husband’s grandmother showed her a copy of an old Coconino County Sheriff’s Posse rodeo book. She learned that Posse Grounds Park was host to weekly rodeos where the ball fields are now located. And that’s how the foot rodeo in Sedona was born.

“She [her husband’s grandmother] thought I would be interested to know that the park I work in was the rodeo grounds that my husband’s family all rodeoed at in the ’60s, including his dad who was just a young kid,” Baxter said. “I brought the rodeo book in to work to share and said I thought it would be cool to have an event to celebrate the history of the park.”

This year’s event will feature the following:

  • Bounce horse barrel racing
  • Mechanical bull riding
  • Dummy calf roping
  • Inflatable wild cow milking
  • Pony rides 
  • Petting zoo
  • Music by the Dan and Dave Rice Band
  • Activity hosted by the Sedona Heritage Museum
  • Food for sale

Returning this year is Loop Rawlins, who according to his website, is one of the most versatile Western performers in the world today.

“His unique act of trick roping, whip cracking and fancy gun spinning has thrilled thousands of audiences,” the website states. “As a kid, Loop loved adventure movies and always had a knack for entertaining. So, when he saw trick roping for the first time he was inspired to learn the technique.

“Continuing to grow in his craft, Loop was spotted by Cirque Du Soleil, which cast him as a specialty act in the show ‘Viva Elvis’ featured in Las Vegas,” the website states. Rawlins also appeared on the television show “America’s Got Talent” and made it to the quarterfinals.

Like last year, the rodeo is again being held on a Friday.

“We chose Friday afternoon to make it an easy stop for parents after picking kids up from school,” Baxter said. “Also, the majority of our events are on Saturdays, and we wanted to switch things up a bit.” For more information on the event, contact parks and recreation at 282-7098.

Ron Eland can be reached at 282-7795 ext. 122, or email reland@larsonnewspapers.com