The Bonifay Kiwanis Club will host the 70th Annual Northwest Florida Championship Rodeo, on Thursday, October 2nd through Saturday, October 4th, starting at 7:30 p.m. nightly at Memorial Field. Gates will open daily at 5:30 p.m. The Bonifay Kiwanis Club Northwest Florida Championship Rodeo is a PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association) sanctioned Dodge Series Rodeo sponsored in part by Bob Pforte Motors. In conjunction with the rodeo, there will be a Rodeo Parade through downtown Bonifay on Friday and Saturday at 1:00 pm.
During the first full weekend of October, Bonifay, Florida goes country when the Northwest Florida Championship Rodeo comes to town. Since its inception in 1944, the Bonifay Kiwanis Club has sponsored the Northwest Florida Championship Rodeo and continues to carry the tradition of ensuring quality family entertainment. Over 25,000 people (eight times the population of Bonifay) can be found in Bonifay during the rodeo weekend. Some people even schedule their only week of vacation to be a part of the rodeo action by camping out in the Bonifay Kiwanis Club designated camping areas. Over the years, the Bonifay Kiwanis Club and countless volunteers have been providing the driving force behind what is considered one of the best professional rodeos in Northwest Florida.
Because the Northwest Florida Championship Rodeo is a PRCA sanctioned Ram Rodeo Series, some of the best rodeo contestants attend in hopes of scoring a few more points toward the Ram National Circuit Finals Rodeothat is held in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. In fact, 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, Florida. Spectators watch these top rodeo contestants compete for thousands of dollars in seven rodeo events: Bareback Riding, Tie-Down Roping, Saddle Bronc Riding, Team Roping, Steer Wrestling, Barrel Racing, and Bull Riding. Included in the three-day rodeo performances are world famous specialty acts, a huge two day rodeo parade, and much more. No wonder that the readers of Florida Monthly magazine selected the Bonifay Rodeo as the “Best Rodeo” during their ninth annual Best of Florida Award which was held in 2004.
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