Many of the country’s top rodeo riders will be in Central Oregon this week for the seventh edition of the High Desert Stampede Rodeo.

The event is set for the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center’s First Interstate Bank Center in Redmond Wednesday through Sunday.

The Stampede is featured as a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) National Finals Rodeo Playoff Series stop as one of the top 60 rodeos in the country, out of nearly 700 rodeos.

The first rodeo of the year on the Columbia River Circuit, the Stampede will offer a chance for cowboys and cowgirls to make additional points and money toward qualifying for the NFR in Las Vegas in December.

The rodeo started on Wednesday with Xtreme Bulls. This stand-alone PRCA event included four full sections of bull riding, as 40 of the top bull riders in the world will compete for part of a one-night $20,000 purse. Wednesday night also included women’s breakaway roping.

“Everyone loves bull riding and we couldn’t be happier to offer more of it,” said Denis Fast, chairman of the High Desert Stampede. “Whether you’re cheering for a big buckoff or for the cowboy to last the full 8 seconds, we will provide an opportunity to see the best in the world compete.”

Thursday through Saturday nights (all starting at 7 p.m.) will include NFR Playoff Series professional rodeo performances of steer wrestling, barrel racing, tie-down roping, team roping, saddle bronc riding, bull riding and women’s breakaway roping.

Pre-sale tickets start at $20 per night and are available online only at highdesertstampede.com. Xtreme Bulls is general admission only ($20), but reserved seating options ($30) are available Thursday, Friday and Saturday during the NFR Playoff Series performances. Tickets are $5 more at the door.

New announcer

Two-time PRCA announcer of the year, Garrett Yerigan, will be the new voice of the High Desert Stampede this week. Yerigan works about 150 performances per year. In 2014 as a 19-year-old, Yerigan set a record as the youngest announcer in the International Finals Rodeo’s (IFR) now 54-year history.

Yerigan, now 29, is a seven-time IFR Announcer. He also has been selected to work the inaugural National Finals Breakaway Roping, The American Rodeo, Cheyenne Frontier Days, PRCA Xtreme Broncs Tour Finale, Colorado State Fair, 101 Wild West Pro Rodeo, PPCLA Mineral Wells Rodeo, and the National High School & Junior High Finals Rodeos.

Yerigan was voted by his fellow PRCA members as the 2021 and 2022 announcer of the year.