HEPLER — Descendants of the original founders will be coming back to the town that bears their family name for the 38th Annual Hepler Ruritan Club Rodeo, Independence Day weekend.
At one time, as many as 30 descendants of founder B.F. Hepler were planning to come, said Doug Harris, one of the organizers of the annual event. Harris isn't sure how many will actually be able to make the trip, though.
The family members have kept in contact with Harris and others in Hepler, he said. This isn't going to be their first trip back.
“One of the guys have been here before,” Harris said. “It's probably been a couple of years since anybody was here from the (Hepler) family.”
The annual events kick off at 11 a.m. Sunday with a special church service and community pot luck in the Hepler Community Building. Everyone is invited to attend, Harris said, and asked to bring a covered dish and their own table service. Services will be provided by the Rev. Pauline Clugston.
The main attraction, the rodeo, opens July 3 with mutton bustin' at 7 p.m. for children age 7 and younger. The adult rodeo, by the C-R McKellips Rodeo Company of Raymore, Mo., begins at 8 p.m.
In addition to the mutton bustin' event, there will be a calf scramble and chuck wagon races during the rodeo. Regular rodeo events will include bare-back riding, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, bull riding and team roping.
A dance will follow the rodeo Thursday from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.
July 4 events begin with the annual parade, scheduled to kick off at 12:30 p.m., sponsored by the Hepler Hustlers 4-H Club. The theme for this year's parade is “Boom Days of Hepler.”
Kids games will begin in the city park at 1:30 p.m. An annual favorite, the Hillbilly Games, are scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.
“The Hillbilly Games are something we've been doing for a number of years,” Harris said. “It's just fun, horse-around types of stuff. We have a good time doing it.”
Rodeo makes a return on July 4, again starting with mutton bustin' for the youngsters at 7 p.m. The main event will begin at 8 p.m., with fireworks to follow on July 4 only, Harris said.
Admission for the rodeo each night will be $8 for adults and $5 for children. Concessions will be available on the grounds during the day events.