Grays Harbor Indoor Pro Rodeo sees record turnout; mass excitement

Event organizers praise community engagement following multi-year hiatus

By Allen Leister • March 28, 2023 1:30 am
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In a competition to collect a single drop of milk, several teams competed against each other by attempting to milk uncooperative cows during the 27th annual Grays Harbor Indoor Pro Rodeo.
In a competition to collect a single drop of milk, several teams competed against each other by attempting to milk uncooperative cows during the 27th annual Grays Harbor Indoor Pro Rodeo.

When the doors of the Mike Murphy Pavilion in Elma opened at 5 p.m. on Friday, March 24, it officially ended the long three-year hiatus of the Grays Harbor Indoor Pro Rodeo.

In what was yet another customary tradition affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the feeling of hosting the rodeo for the first time since 2019 didn’t go unnoticed by Patrick Carl, captain of the Grays Harbor Mounted Posse.

“Back in 2020, this was one of the first major events to get postponed because of the pandemic restrictions. At first, we never thought it would last as long as it did, but to see the rodeo back for its 27th year and see things back to normal, this one holds a special place for many of us,” Carl said.

The Grays Harbor Mounted Posse, which led the efforts to set up the rodeo along with the Grays Harbor Fairgrounds, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the people of Grays Harbor County. They assist with supporting finances for local high school equestrian teams, improve the fairgrounds’ horse facilities and provide scholarships to Harbor students.

“We don’t make a dime from this rodeo,” said Marv Cole, the treasurer for the Grays Harbor Mounted Posse. “Any money we make from our events goes back into this community. We wouldn’t be anything without the support of the people from Grays Harbor.”

Despite being unable to host the Indoor Pro Rodeo for the last few years, the community showed its support of the popular event en masse over the three-day weekend, selling more than 4,000 tickets and having sold-out crowds for Friday and Saturday nights.

“It’s a lot of work but it’s a great time. We weren’t expecting as large of a crowd as we had (Friday night) but after being off for such a long time, we knew there would be a lot of anticipation for this rodeo,” Carl said.

Carl said while the rodeo events on Saturday night have historically sold out, due in part to the live concert following the rodeo, it was the first time in the 27-year history of the Indoor Pro Rodeo that the Friday night show was sold out.

“It’s not uncommon for us to have some last-minute tickets available to sell at the entrance for the Saturday rodeo, but they sold out so quickly that it wasn’t even an option this year,” Carl said. “People always ask why we don’t have more than one rodeo a year given how popular it is, but it costs a lot of money, time and manpower to make these good. So, we must be doing something right.”

While guests were able to enjoy a plethora of alcoholic beverages and food choices, the main entertainment of the rodeo didn’t disappoint in the slightest. From singing along with music to whooping and hollering during the competitions, there wasn’t much time to hear yourself think in the arena that was packed with more than 2,000 people.

“Environments like this are why I love this small rural community of Elma and Grays Harbor. My family has missed this event far too long and honestly, it felt nice again to put on my boots and my cowboy hat, and just party on,” said Jeff Kirkland, who was watching the rodeo with his wife and daughter in the VIP section.

Competitions in the rodeo featured bareback and saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, breakaway roping, team roping, wild cow milking, bull riding, and barrel racing.

“There’s a lot of anticipated events for the rodeo but nothing comes close to bull riding. The cheers from the crowd during that one are memorable,” Carl said.

Contact Reporter Allen Leister at 360-463-3572 or allen.leister@thedailyworld.com

Above, in the Breakaway Roping event of the 27th annual Grays Harbor Indoor Pro Rodeo, multiple cowboys and cowgirls attempted to lasso a runaway calf before time expired. Right, in a race for the fastest time, multiple cowgirls competed in the barrel racing event of the 27th annual Grays Harbor Indoor Pro Rodeo. While most completed times were neck and neck the fastest barrel race horse clocked in at 13.86 seconds.

Above, in the Breakaway Roping event of the 27th annual Grays Harbor Indoor Pro Rodeo, multiple cowboys and cowgirls attempted to lasso a runaway calf before time expired. Right, in a race for the fastest time, multiple cowgirls competed in the barrel racing event of the 27th annual Grays Harbor Indoor Pro Rodeo. While most completed times were neck and neck the fastest barrel race horse clocked in at 13.86 seconds.

In a race for the fastest time, multiple cowgirls competed in the barrel racing event of the 27th annual Grays Harbor Indoor Pro Rodeo. While most completed times were neck and neck the fastest barrel race horse clocked in at 13.86 seconds. (Coutesy photo / Madison Radonski)

In a race for the fastest time, multiple cowgirls competed in the barrel racing event of the 27th annual Grays Harbor Indoor Pro Rodeo. While most completed times were neck and neck the fastest barrel race horse clocked in at 13.86 seconds. (Coutesy photo / Madison Radonski)

Perhaps the most anticipated event of the 27th annual Grays Harbor Indoor Pro Rodeo came during the bull riding event. The cheers of the audience could be heard increasing every second the rider was able to stay on his bull.

Perhaps the most anticipated event of the 27th annual Grays Harbor Indoor Pro Rodeo came during the bull riding event. The cheers of the audience could be heard increasing every second the rider was able to stay on his bull.

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