Two days of rodeo action are headed to the San Bernardino County Fairgrounds, where local competitors will take on everything from bull riding and barrel racing to team roping and mutton busting.
The San Bernardino County Fairgrounds will trade its usual event setup for dirt, livestock and plenty of hometown competition when the High Desert Rodeo arrives in Victorville Sept. 19 and 20.
Preparations are already underway for the two-day event, with organizers working to transform the area in front of the fairgrounds grandstands into a rodeo arena. The weekend will combine traditional rodeo events, local competitors, vendors and entertainment, with a Saturday night concert adding even more to the festivities.
Organized by Shannon Finch of Double F Cattle Co., the event will bring together members of the High Desert’s longtime ranching and rodeo community, including the Hesperia Wranglers.
Getting the Arena Ready for Competition
Long before the first rider enters the arena, organizers have plenty of work to do.
Finch and members of his team have been evaluating the grounds to determine how the arena should be laid out and what preparation will be necessary to create suitable footing for the horses and livestock. That process includes grading the site, adding appropriate soil and preparing the competition area.
It’s familiar territory for Finch, an Apple Valley native with decades of involvement in the region’s agricultural community. He also spent 45 years serving as stock contractor for the annual Hesperia Days rodeo.
That local connection will continue during the new Victorville event, with many of the competitors expected to come from the surrounding area.
For spectators, that means the people entering the arena may be neighbors, friends or familiar faces from throughout the High Desert.
Rodeo Events for Competitors of Different Ages
The weekend schedule will showcase several staples of Western competition.
Spectators can expect bull riding, team roping, barrel racing, chute dogging, ranch broncs, mutton busting, calf roping and breakaway roping. Some events will include competitors from multiple age groups, creating opportunities for both younger participants and experienced riders to compete.
The Hesperia Wranglers will also be part of the weekend, continuing their longtime presence within the local rodeo community.
Organizers say vendors and additional surprises are planned for both days, giving visitors plenty to explore outside of the arena as well.
Saturday Night Continues With Southern Spirit
The action won’t end when Saturday’s final rodeo event is over.
High Desert country band Southern Spirit will perform a post-rodeo concert on Sept. 19, bringing more than three decades of West Coast performance experience to the fairgrounds.
The band has appeared at venues throughout Southern California over the years and has opened for major country performers including Martina McBride, Brooks & Dunn and Toby Keith.
Southern Spirit blends influences from country, rock, blues and jazz, with a setlist primarily featuring familiar covers alongside occasional original material.
For Saturday attendees, the concert turns the evening into more than a rodeo, offering a full night of local entertainment at the fairgrounds.
Two Nights With Two Different Themes
Each day of the High Desert Rodeo will carry its own theme.
Saturday, Sept. 19, will be “Tough Enough to Wear Pink Night,” recognizing cancer awareness. Gates open at 3 p.m., with rodeo competition beginning at 6 p.m. Southern Spirit will take the stage after the rodeo concludes.
The following evening will celebrate community and country with “Patriotic Night.” Guests are encouraged to arrive in red, white and blue on Sunday, Sept. 20. Gates open at 2 p.m., followed by the rodeo at 5 p.m.
The weekend also coincides with another rodeo event elsewhere in the High Desert. Following a change involving the Hesperia Recreation and Park District and Hesperia Wranglers, a separate Jaripeo Rodeo is scheduled as part of Hesperia Days at Hesperia Lake during the same weekend.
A Weekend Rooted in High Desert Rodeo Tradition
While the High Desert Rodeo is taking place in Victorville, much of what will enter the arena has deep roots throughout the surrounding communities.
From longtime agricultural families and experienced rodeo organizers to local riders and the Hesperia Wranglers, the event brings together people who have helped maintain the region’s Western traditions for generations.
Finch has also credited community members, sponsors, the Hesperia Wranglers and their rodeo queens for helping support the event.
For spectators, the result will be two evenings built around local competition and community entertainment—with plenty of dirt getting kicked up along the way.
The High Desert Rodeo will take place Sept. 19 and 20 at the San Bernardino County Fairgrounds, 14800 7th St. in Victorville. Ticket, parking and event information can be found through San Bernardino County Fair. Vendor and sponsorship inquiries can be sent to hidesertrodeo@gmail.com.
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