Forty bull riders expected for July 3 Challenge event

    Forty bull riders are expected to compete in Imperial next week at the Bull Riding Challenge at the Chase County Fairgrounds.
    Double SS Bull Co. LLC is  the event promoter for the Extreme Bull Riding Tour competition that will help kick off Fourth of July activities in the community.
    The event will be held Monday, July 3, from 6 to 8 p.m. at ALLO Arena on the fairgrounds. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $10. Youths 10 and younger can attend free.
    Jake Burke, the Chase County Fair Board’s marketing and ticket manager, said the board, along with several sponsors, decided to get involved and coordinate the Bull Riding Challenge as a way to provide a community activity for the family and also utilize their facilities more.
    “We’ve had bull riding events in the past, but it’s been years. With Imperial fireworks also on July 3, we thought it would be a nice family event for everyone to celebrate the 4th,” Burke said.
    The Challenge will kick off with a high school division for youths age 12-18. Burke said 10 high school riders are registered.
    That will be followed by 30 riders who will be vying for points on the Extreme Bull Riding Tour.
    He said if this year’s event goes well, they’ll consider others in the future, and he encourages community organizations to get involved. The Imperial Rotary Club is supplying some of the volunteer help this year, he said.
    Burke noted the fair board has made considerable improvements in the arena the past couple of years and wants to utilize the facilities more.
    The chutes have been redone and the crow’s nest moved from the east side to the southwest area.
    At the July 3 Challenge, Burke said the Imperial Young Farmers & Ranchers organization will be grilling food for sale. There will also be a cash bar provided.
    Seating will be available in the grandstands, or people can bring chairs to sit on the cement surface west of the arena.
    Burke said people are invited to stay in the arena after the bull riding for Imperial’s 9 p.m. fireworks show, which this year, will be shot off from the city-owned Cornerstone property at Imperial’s southeast edge.