The biggest rodeo in the Southern Hemisphere starts on Thursday in Queensland's north west after months of uncertainty around Mount Isa's biggest annual event.
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Rodeo CEO Natalie Flecker said the team behind the rodeo had worked hard to ensure the rodeo goes ahead while following Covid-safe practices with a last minute change to the entertainment line-up announced of Sheppard replacing the locked down Guy Sebastian.
For eight-year-old Byron Kirk, the rodeo is an opportunity to dust off his chaps and compete.
The budding poddy calf and mini bull rider has made a name for himself in the kids' circles of late after taking home the Yelvertoft buckle in July.
Byron said he was nervous the Mount Isa rodeo would be cancelled, like other big events in the last year.
The Isa rodeo will be his tenth ride of the year.
"I'm going to do the poddy calf ride," he said.
"It's really fun, I like it because everybody has a fair go."
Standing with his horses, Byron can hardly keep his chaps up from the weight of his Yelvertoft buckle which he wears with pride.
He said it was one of his best rides.
"I stayed square, stayed forward and rode for six seconds and I got a 72 score," he said.
Competing against teenagers as old as 14 doesn't put Byron off, even though he said he's usually the "youngest and smallest".
"I first saw my first PBR when I was about two and I came home and said I want to do it," he said.
"I reckon I've got a fair go [at winning in Mount Isa]."
Boots on the ground
Ms Flecker said after the rodeo went virtual-only last year, she was excited to see boots back on the ground.
"The Mount Isa Mines Rodeo is Mount Isa's only major event and... is expected to inject more than $10 million into the local economy," she said.
"I think people are just pumped to be getting back out and doing things again.
"There hasn't been that many rodeos happening over the last 12 months."
Ms Flecker said a lot of planning and work with the Queensland Government had been done to bring the rodeo to life this year in line with changing restrictions.
Though Wednesday night's Street Festival has been cancelled, the Mount Isa Mines Rodeo runs until Sunday, with the Mailman Express races on Thursday and live music Friday and Saturday nights.
Tickets are still on sale and accommodation is available, including the Mount Isa Mines onsite Tent City.
READ ALSO: COVID postpones Birdsville Races
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Kelly Butterworth
Kelly is the Agricultural Digital Editor for ACM Agri, covering Queensland Country Life, The Land, Farmonline, Stock Journal, Stock & Land, Farm Weekly and the North Queensland Register.
Kelly is the Agricultural Digital Editor for ACM Agri, covering Queensland Country Life, The Land, Farmonline, Stock Journal, Stock & Land, Farm Weekly and the North Queensland Register.
