2022 Mangis Memorial This Saturday

In its third installation, the 2022 Craig Mangis Memorial Rough Stock Rodeo will feature plenty of thrills, spills, and action, as it has in previous years.

Jerey McEwen, President of the Trafton Park Arena Committee has a message for those that may have never been to a rough stock rodeo before.

"Get there early, get a good seat, and hold on to it because it's going to be wild," McEwen said. "It's got a lot of action. There are no boring events in this deal. Stuff will be happening the whole time."

The event starts at 6 p.m. with a Calcutta auction, right after the Knights of Columbus BBQ Competition, also being held at Trafton Park on Saturday, August 20.

If you miss the BBQ, the Craig will also feature food for sale from A&E Catering.

This year's Craig Mangis Memorial will not have as many bull riders as in recent years, but McEwen believes that it may have something to do with the quality of bull that AJ Crasco has brought to the Trafton Park Arena, that have bucked off every rider in Malta this year.

"Crascos are going to bring another pen to town," McEwen said. "They love winning that buckle."

He also said that the saddle bronc riding numbers are down, but the ranch bronc riders are plenty.

"We will have three good sessions of ranch bronc riders and then we will do a Calcutta on the top five," McEwen said.

The event will also have Mutton Bustin' as well as a Wild Pony Relay.

"The Pony Relay will have three kids per team, aged 12 years and under," McEwen said. "They let a haltered pony out of the bucking chute. One kid is an anchor, one is a mugger, and one gets on and rides it for three jumps and that's how they win it."

This annual event is in memory of Craig Mangis who passed away in May of 2019.

"I don't know what he would say," McEwen said. "He probably would say, "Why the (heck) are you doing this for me? He didn't like anybody making a fuss over him."

To make it an even bigger deal, the Trafton Rodeo Arena Committee is using the proceeds of the event to make a scholarship for students that are entering a trade after high school.

"Craig would be happy with that," McEwen said. "Happy with us promoting a kid that is going to trade school more so than us making a ruckus about him, but we are going to do that too."