Frank J. Buchman

Cowboy • Horseman • Writer

Burlingame Has Packed Entertainment Lineup For Annual Rodeo Days

A saddle’s not even required, yet there’ll be plenty of Western action for all.

It’s the annual Rodeo Days at Burlingame, “where the rail crosses the trail,” right on Highway 56, Saturday, May 19, announced Mark Hecht, local Chamber of Commerce official-businessman-enthusiast.

 “We have a packed line-up of activities set this year for our community celebration planned to draw attention to the 48th annual Santa Fe Trail Rodeo sponsored by the Burlingame Saddle Club, with performances both Friday and Saturday evenings,” Hecht said.

About everything imaginable will be available when more than 60 vendors and craftsmen from throughout the Midwest open their displays at 9 o’clock Saturday morning, filling the entire wide brick street of the west end of Santa Fe Street, the original trail.

A youth pancake feed is planned at the Federated Church throughout the morning. All are welcome to enter the pie baking contest, with an auction of the winners and all competitors also to be at 9 o’clock.

Check-in for the 5K run/walk will be at the Chamber of Commerce booth at 9 o’clock, with the Bucking Fun Run shotgun start at 10 o’clock.

Always key to Burlingame Rodeo Days are the younger generation, and that includes the really little ones. The cutest baby contest is at 9:30 o’clock, with selection to be followed by the Farm Bureau Pedal Pull at 10, for those ages four to just shy teenagers. Registration for both begins at 9 o’clock, as well.

Also on tap for the kids will be pony rides, a petting zoo, inflatables, and “much more for the kids of all ages,” Hecht promised with a grin.

Braken on the Bricks Car Show will draw classics, customized and more vehicles of most every color and condition, with entries welcome up to show time at 10 o’clock. The Tractor Show is planned downtown this year and will share the east end of the trail with the car show.

What would a rural community celebration be without music? And, Rodeo Days will have some of the best. The official opening of Stage 56 will feature WindStrings, The Vogts Sisters, Terry Middleton, and Thorpe & McElroy. Bluegrass, country, folk, and American music also begins at 10 o’clock.

Now, those are the scheduled features, but whenever one gets to Burlingame, there’ll be features ongoing. Detailed map and schedules will be available at the Chamber of Commerce booth.

Included are a quilt show along with ice cream at the library, Dave Prescott operating his sawmill, a rescue horse display, a cardboard box costume contest and samples of authentic chuck wagon cooking.

The Schuyler Museum is to be open all day followed by a taco and baked potato feed at 4 o’clock.

Anticipated highlight always is the Salute to the American Cowboy Parade with entries expected and welcomed from wherever one wants to come with a horse, carriage, car, float, anything special for all to enjoy. Lineup is in the high school parking lot at 2 o’clock, judging at 2:30 and the parade starts out at 3 o’clock.

The 48th Santa Fe Rodeo kicks off Friday night, May 18, with the grand entry cowboys and cowgirls on parade at 7 o’clock. Saturday night, May 19, rodeo continues at 7 o’clock with another night of Western flare.

“High Stakes Rodeo Company from Drexel, Missouri, will supply the rodeo livestock which draws the top contestants from throughout the Midwest,” according to Pat Rusher, official of the host Burlingame Saddle Club.

“Ron Snoddy, a saddle club member, is 76-years-old and is entered in the bull riding in honor and memory of the club members who started the rodeo 48 years ago and the many who’ve continued to work for the rodeo all of these years,” Rusher said.

A youth king and queen, boys and girls seven and under, will be crowned from a nightly rodeo drawing. Additional rodeo highlights for the kids each performance include Mutton Busting, with signup at 6:30, and a calf scramble.

Attraction specifically for local rodeo contestants is the steer mugging, with entries taken each evening until the rodeo begins.

There’ll be a MoKan Junior Rodeo beginning at noon on Sunday, May 20.

 “Ya’ll come to the greatest fun in the Midwest, it’s Rodeo Days right on the original Santa Fe Trail, Saturday, May 19, in Burlingame, Kansas, America,” Hecht welcomed.

 Additional information is on Facebook at “2018 Burlingame Rodeo Days.”

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