The Philomath Frolic and Rodeo arena will come alive Friday through Sunday as the Northwest Youth Rodeo Association holds its finals rodeo, the last stop of a summer-long season that draws young competitors from across the region.
Gates open at 8 a.m. Friday and the day begins with 2027 NWYRA court tryouts, including a 9 a.m. orientation and a noon horsemanship session, followed by a 2 p.m. speeches and modeling session at the Yew Wood Corral. Competition gets underway at 3 p.m. with pole bending for senior girls, junior girls and peewee riders, followed by a ground goat tying jackpot.
Saturday’s action starts with an 8 a.m. grand entry and a full slate of pre-peewee events, including barrel racing, speed poles, dummy goat flanking and dummy roping. The day’s competition continues with breakaway roping, team roping, tie down roping, steer wrestling, chute dogging, bareback steer riding and saddle steer riding, before wrapping up with bull riding.
Sunday closes out the weekend with another 8 a.m. grand entry, followed by barrel racing, bareback riding, saddle bronc riding and goat tying. The 2027 NWYRA court will be announced during the day.
Founded in 1974, the Northwest Youth Rodeo Association has grown into the largest youth rodeo association in the Pacific Northwest. The all-volunteer, family-oriented nonprofit operates on sponsorships, donations and fundraising, giving young cowboys and cowgirls a place to compete and train for the sport.
The NWYRA season runs from June through August and includes five weekend rodeos — the first four as doubleheaders with the Philomath weekend serving as the single-header finals.
NWYRA divides competitors into four age divisions based on their age — pre-peewees (4-6), peewees (7-10), juniors (11-13) and seniors (14-18).