The Slimdor Ranch Rodeo kicks of the upcoming rodeo weekend on Friday night. It's a free event for the whole family. (file photo)What started with nine ranch families has continued to flourish as the opening night of four days of rodeo action at the Cochrane Lions Rodeo Grounds in the heart of Cochrane.

The 16th Annual Slimdor Ranch Rodeo kicks off the weekend on Friday night, Aug. 31. It's a free event for the whole family. Gates open at 3 p.m. and the action starts at 4 p.m.

"The Slimdor Ranch Rodeo is a chance to see real cowboys work real cattle and to see what they do on the ranch," explains Lions Rodeo co-chair Kevin Firkus. "It's a great evening."

Twenty teams are in this year's event and they'll be doing everything from cattle wrestling to sorting and penning. 

"We've had some teams that have been here the entire 16 years," says Firkus. "It's quite an event that has been very well sponsored by Slimdor Contracting since day one. Sixteen years later, we're still at it and everybody's enjoying themselves."

The Ranch Rodeo has its roots in the BSE crisis of the early 2000s and was seen as an opportunity to show support for the ranching community.

Firkus salutes Rich Bach for his continued support.

"We approached him with the original nine ranch families and he didn't hesitate to jump on board and has supported it every year since and provides huge sponsorship," says Firkus. "He's a big guy in this community and he loves this community. This is his baby."