Friends, family, and sponsors met Veterans Day weekend, not only to give thanks to the men and women who had sacrificed for their country, but to watch more than 210 students participate in the Bakersfield College Inaugural NIRA Collegiate Rodeo on Nov. 11.

In addition to BC’s Rodeo Team Club, teams from Cal Poly, Fresno state, and Long Beach State University attended and showed off their skills in barrel races, team roping, bronc riding, and steer roping.

BC team head coach Andrea Priest was there with her horse Sassy. Priest stated, “Today everyone had been excited and happy to have been here just as we were and we really hoped to show our hospitality and what we (Bakersfield College Rodeo Team) were about.”

She also thanked sponsors, partners, friends, and family for their support as the rodeo may not had been possible without the helping hand of the community.

Rodeo club president Maryln Alcala Rodarte stated, “We’ve started since 2021 and we were excited to finally host one in Bakersfield finally being a team.  We wanted to host during Veterans Day weekend because it not only shows our pride for the sport and the school, but our pride for our veterans as well.”

The team/club not only encouraged newcomers to learn about rodeo culture but dive into the rodeo world and their family.  The team not only got to travel to different rodeos held across California but were also proud to have won student club of the year in addition to numerous titles.

The fun did not stop there as businesses from all across Kern County turned up to support the team.  Businesses such as the Brenda’s Treats, Kern County cattlewomen, Old Isabella Coffee Company, and more could be found under the bleachers selling food, hats, and other goodies for the patrons.