The third annual Snake River Showdown returns with two nights of bull-riding action at Sandy Downs next Friday.
The event started when 3H Cattle Co. in Rigby wanted a place to show their raised bucking bulls. That’s where Andria Hutchens got the idea for the showdown.
“We were kind of limited in places to take them, so we decided why not just start our own?” Hutchens said.
Throwing an event such as this takes a lot of work. Hutchens says her background in marketing helps her organize the showdowns.
“Honestly, I just thought it was an exciting opportunity to combine the two things that I like to do and that’s where the Snake River Showdown came about,” Hutchens said.
The first year, the event took place at a small indoor facility in Idaho Falls. The show was so popular that the following year, additional bleachers had to be added. Then, they met with a sold-out crowd.
“It was completely packed. It ended up being standing room only,” Hutchens said.
This year, the Snake River Showdown will be at Sandy Downs.
“We see this being something that long term is going to be a big deal in the community.”
Not only is the showdown a fun community event, but Hutchens hopes it promotes the Western lifestyle and the livestock 3H raises. They raise and train the bulls for bucking.
“Although it is mostly based around those bulls, we do try to include some opportunities where people can learn about things like the training process that goes into it,” Hutchens said.
In years prior, the showdown featured bucking bulls and section breakers, such as giveaways. Last year, they bucked around 50 bulls in one night. That doesn’t happen in most rodeos.
“If you’ve been to a rodeo, they only buck five to 10, maybe 15 bulls in one night.”
One of the hardest parts of planning an event like this is getting the talent to ride the bulls. It’s a busy time of year for rodeos around the area. Hutchens has a unique way of attracting the riders.
“One thing that we have incorporated starting last year is we give away an ABBI, which is an American Bucking Bull-registered heifer,” Hutchens said.
That’s a female that raises the bucking bulls. The showdown gives that away to the bull riding average champion between the company’s two different competitions.
They also have a competition in Jackson, known as the Thunder in the Tetons.
“They have an opportunity to not only win this heifer, but then we also have added money at each event,” Hutchens said.
If spectators want more bull riding after the Snake River Showdown, they can go to the Thunder in the Tetons in Jackson, on Sept. 18 and 19. This is the second of that competition.
As the showdown prepares for Sandy Downs, Hutchens is grateful for the crew getting the facility ready.
“So far it’s been really impressive how good of a job that entire crew does on keeping up with that facility,” Hutchens said.
The Snake River Showdown goes from Aug. 21–22. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. and bulls start bucking at 7 p.m.
You can purchase tickets at universe.com/events.