rodeo photoJamestown (CSi) The James River Rodeo on Friday and Saturday has signed up 697 contestants at the rodeo grounds next to the Stutsman County Fairgrounds.

The rodeo starts at 7 p.m. Friday with the main performance completed by 9 p.m. On Saturday, the main performance starts at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for youths age 6 to 16 and children 5 and younger are admitted free.

James River Rodeo Committee members, Marlyn Bertsch and Greg Carlson,note that this is the most contestants the rodeo has had in its 13-year history.

Bertsch point out that the James River Senior/Community Center’s Classic Catering will sell food and refreshments during the rodeo, with proceeds from the refreshments going to the center’s Meals on Wheels program

Contestants will compete in the areas of: bareback horse riding, barrel racing, saddle bronc, goat tying, bull riding, calf roping, ladies and junior breakaway, steer wrestling, mixed team roping, team roping and novice barrel racing.

The James River Rodeo is part of the North Dakota Roughrider Association’s rodeo series.