It’s time to grab cowboy boots and a hat and head to Elma for the Clash of the Cowboys rodeo coming to the Grays Harbor Fairgrounds on Saturday, October 27 at 7:00 p.m. Sponsored by Bud Light, Clash of the Cowboys will have spectators whooping and hollering as bronc busting, barrel racing and bull riding competitions ramp up the night in this fast-paced rodeo.
“It’s going to be a younger generation’s rodeo,” says Rod Easton, Grays Harbor Fairgrounds’ fair and events supervisor. “There’s going to be a lot of pizzazz.”
The doors are set to open at 5:00 p.m. and parking is free at the event. For $12, advanced ticket sales may be purchased from the Centralia, Elma or Olympia Les Schwab locations, the Montesano Farm & Home in Montesano, or the Grays Harbor Fairgrounds office in Elma. Ticket prices at the door are $15, so be sure to buy a ticket beforehand and save that $3 to put towards some of the yummy rodeo food.
This is the first year that the Grays Harbor Fairgrounds will host Clash of the Cowboys and it is guaranteed to be a sparkling event with some spotlights and even pyrotechnics to keep the sparks and spectators’ energy flying high. After the rodeo has ended, audience members ages 21-years-old and over are invited to stay for some dancing and country music with a concert by the Jessie Leigh Band. “I’m looking forward to hearing the Jessie Leigh Band,” says Grays Harbor Fairgrounds and Tourism Manager Mike Bruner. “They put on a good show. It’s fun, it’s lively. It’s a good mix of modern country and classic country stuff.”
The popular Jessie Leigh Band has delighted the harbor with performances at the county fair in the past and also at two Oktoberfest events. The band always brings down-to-earth country feelings along with the energy of rock-and-roll style music. The crowd is sure to be dancing and singing along with the band as they put on a memorable show. “That’s what goes best here is country,” Easton explains, adding that the past concerts by the Jessie Leigh Band have been entertaining and spunky.
Make sure to come hungry as there will be traditional foods available like burgers, chicken strips, hot dogs, and specially themed foods for the event. There will be a separate family section in the grandstands and also a beer garden. It’s a great time to embrace an inner cowboy or cowgirl and really get into the spirit of a rodeo.
Not only will there be great food, but there will also be vendors set up for people to take a look at and browse through all kinds of country swag. Everything from belts, sporting goods, hats, belt buckles, T-shirts, and lots more will be at the booths to peruse.
The Grays Harbor Mounted Posse Indoor Pro Rodeo is hosted at Elma every year and this year is no different with the rodeo scheduled in March. The Clash of the Cowboys rodeo promises to be just as fun but is also a chance for people to see what else is out there, including some different approaches to a rodeo. “We’re just being told that it’s a little bit more bells and whistles than your traditional rodeo,” Bruner explains. “It’s something a little bit different for a reason. We don’t want to duplicate what the Posse is doing in March, just wanted to try something new.”
The Howell Rodeo Company, based out of Oregon, are the ones organizing the Clash of the Cowboys rodeo. For more than 30 years, the company has been working hard to make their events fun and unique. Their mission is to make each event engaging and also exciting for everyone there. “I’m really curious to see how big a difference there’s going to be between a regular rodeo and a Clash of the Cowboys rodeo,” says Easton. “I’ve never seen one. It’s new; we don’t know what’s going to happen.”
As it’s the first year that Elma has hosted this event, the fairgrounds are not sure what to expect but hopes to draw in a good crowd and possibly make this a yearly event. The Howell Rodeo Company is working hard. All of the participant slots have been filled and people are preparing for a great night on October 27. “Ideally, it would be successful and well received and we would have it as an annual event,” says Bruner.
For questions or more information, call the Grays Harbor Fairgrounds office at 360-482-2651 or visit the Grays Harbor Fairgrounds website.
This event is also sponsored by Bigfoot 107.3, Mattress Ranch, East County Sporting Goods, House Brothers Construction, Les Schwab and A&B Machine and Hydraulics.
Clash of the Cowboys will take place at the Grays Harbor Fairgrounds Saturday, October 27 at 7:00 p.m. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. Tickets cost $12 presale and $15 admission at the door. The Jessie Leigh Band will play after the rodeo, parking is free and there will be food, beer and vendors.
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