Rodeo underway in Bonifay

The Northwest Florida Championship Rodeo is underway in Bonifay.The Kiwanis Club has hosted the Northwest Florida Championship Rodeo for over 60 years and every year the rodeo grows more popular and more exciting.

Over 25,000 people (eight times the population of Bonifay) are expected to attend the event, which opened Thursday night. The Rodeo runs through Saturday.

The Northwest Florida Championship Rodeo is a PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association) sanctioned Dodge Series Rodeo, and many top rodeo contestants attend in hopes of scoring a few more points toward the Dodge National Circuit Finals held in Pocatello, Idaho.

"For some of the cowboys and cowgirls the Northwest Florida Championship Rodeo is their last chance to get points before heading to the Southeast Circuit Finals in Brighton. Included in the three-day rodeo performances are world famous specialty acts, a huge two-day rodeo parade, and much more," said Holly Holland of the Bonifay Kiwanis Club.

Thursday was “Kids Night,” and all children under the age of 10 received free admission. Kiwanis is members were busy last week distributing tickets in local elementary schools. The rodeo performance began at 7:30 p.m.

The parade will be at 2 p.m. Friday and Saturday, with lineup at Bonifay Elementary School at noon. The theme is “Patriotic” and there will be veterans from Holmes County, members of the U.S. Army, and members of Florida Army National Guard (Company D, 3rd Infantry Battalion). Heather Mills, who will carry the American Flag.

Friday night is “Tough Enough to Wear Pink Night.” to help PINK (Protection Is iN Knowledge) kick off Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Performance Realty will give away 500 pink bandanas beginning at 5:30 p.m. The U.S. Army Special Forces will return. Friday Night’s Pre-Show will feature Miss Rodeo Florida 2007, Heather Mills, the 2007 Northwest Florida Championship Rodeo queens and kings, and a very special breast cancer survivor. The Bonifay Kiwanis Club will present a check to PINK organization for the money raised prior to the Friday night rodeo performance.

On Saturday, Oct. 6, There will be a special appearance by Miss Florida 2007, Kylie Williams, and her Sunshine Princesses (including Melea Kirk of Bonifay). Veterans from Holmes County, members of the U.S. Army, members from Tyndall Air Force Base, and of the local Florida Army National Guard will be featured. Saturday night is Military Appreciation Night. A number of local recruits will take the oath to join the U.S. Army.

Many organizations in Holmes County benefit each year from donations made by the Kiwanis Club. Since 2000, the Kiwanis have donated over $123,000 to organizations in the area. Since the 2006 Northwest Florida Championship Rodeo the club has given away over $16,000.

The money has been donated to youth organizations, local school athletics, non-profit organizations and special events held in the Panhandle of Florida. With the help of the Northwest Florida Championship Rodeo, they are able to award a student from each of the four Holmes County schools a scholarship to Chipola College.

For more information on the Bonifay Kiwanis Club and the Northwest Florida Championship Rodeo visit www.bonifayrodeo.org.

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