07/12/2022
The Winnemucca Events Complex is always excited to host this group of kids and their families! Thank you SSIR for another great year in Winnemucca Nevada!
SILVER STATE INTERNATIONAL RODEO 2022 IN WINNEMUCCA, NEVADA: (Photos - https://tinyurl.com/2022-SSIR)
The Silver State International Rodeo or SSIR, was held last week in Winnemucca, Nevada. The 37th year for the international high school and now junior high rodeo which was added in 2017. This year was the inaugural rodeo for 5th graders. Entrees were high again this year with 495 contestants. Rodeo athletes came from British Columbia, Wyoming, Montana, California, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Utah, and of course Nevada.
The rodeo is for 5th – 10th place qualifiers in their state, district, or providence. They can pack an extra event as well. This year eight performances were run, 2 go rounds and a short round. SSIR is always during the 4th of July and with a short round on the final day.
There are few unique and memorable things about the SSIR that’s held in Winnemucca, Nevada now annually besides several the practice and jackpot arenas.
On the 4th of July there is no morning performance. Instead, every state has a float decorated and they are normally armed with large water troughs or blow-up pools, water guns, buckets, and tubs full of filled water balloons. The whole town of Winnemucca, including business owners, the local fire departments, and police join in on a full-on water fight parade on the main street in Winnemucca.
If you stand on the sidelines, you are more than likely to get drenched because no one is immune from this fun water fight.
It's quite entertaining to see your favorite rodeo athletes trade in their boots and jeans for some shorts and t-shirts and play some hard-core mud volleyball for the state’s bragging rights.
In 2018 they added a state All Star team which consists of 5 contestants girls or boys, junior high or high school.
This year Utah won the award with Idaho tailing them by just 5 points. In the spirit of family fun, they added dog races. There is also a Trap and Rifle shoot.
Contestants not only have the opportunity to win over $90,000 in prizes and scholarships. Each contestant receives a commemorative pin.
In addition, anyone breaks an existing record in any event gets 100 silver dollars.
SSIR is a family friendly event and rodeo. It’s a whole week long of adrenaline, grit, and good old fashioned, lifelong, rodeo, memories for all involved. SSIR is where old school rodeo traditions and values still run strong but, they also meet and grow our youth and future professional rodeo athletes.
Photo: Western Edge Photography. To see SSIR photos click here:
https://tinyurl.com/2022-SSIR
