Locals get a jump start in the upcoming War Bonnet Roundup fun

The 2019 War Bonnet Roundup is less than a day away.

Yet, crowds of people gathered in downtown Idaho Falls to get a head start in the rodeo celebrations.

Wednesday evening, the rodeo committee and other event organizers put together a free sneak preview for Thursday’s event.

The weekly summer party, Alive After 5, kicked off next door and just a block over, the War Bonnet Roundup pre-party added to the weekday fun.

Rodeo-goers have the chance to enjoy music, games, and had a chance to meet the rodeo bulls.

When the 2018 War Bonnet Roundup came to an end, committee members immediately started preparing for this year’s event to make it even better than the last.

Dennis Marshall, President of the War Bonnet Association said, ” We pride our selves in the quality of the production and bringing family internment for our community it is a way for us to give back to the people for making our lives here so enjoyable in Idaho Falls area. ”

Event organizers are not looking to just give back, they hope people will find passion in the rodeo experience and apply the fun into their own lives.

P. J Holm, Interim Director of Idaho Falls Parks and Recreation said, ” I’m really just looking forward to seeing the smiles on peoples faces and seeing the experience. Not just the community members but for the kids. For many, this will be their first rodeo and I want them to say, ‘Hey, that’s something I want to do when I get older,’ and one day see these kids turn into to our future cowboys and cowgirls from the experience that they had here. ”

One mans dream has come already come true for one local cowgirl who is now a ” cow-gal. ”

Kindee Wilson went to the rodeo shows as a little girl, and this year she will be standing out as a rodeo star.

Wilson said, ” I was that little girl who always had a rope in my hand. When I’d go to the show I would say, ‘I wanted to be like them.’ My goal as a little kid was I wanted to be the first girl to be in the National Finals Rodeo. ”

That dream could soon be a reality. Wilson spent years training and soon her hard work will be worth the wait.

This is the 108th annual War Bonnet Roundup.

Every year it makes history for being Idaho’s oldest Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association rodeo, but this year’s event will go down in history for another reason.

Wilson said, ” This is history in the making. Idaho Falls and the War Bonnet is one of the first rodeos in the northwest to pick-up breakaway roping for women to compete as an actual event in professional rodeo. ”

The rodeo committee is asking those who are attending the event to arrive early.

They have entertainment scheduled for every minute of the day, and they say you are not going to want to miss a second of it.