The event will mark the last time that Coach Bruce Hunt will lead his team onto the home rodeo grounds. Hunt is retiring in June, after more than 30 years of guiding the rodeo teams at WHCC.
Other colleges expected to attend include University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Feather River College, Lassen College, and Fresno State.
The first rodeo performance opens at 6:30 p.m. on the first night of competition. Riders will compete in nine events and the crowd will be entertained by a calf dressing contest featuring students and staff from West Hills College Coalinga.
The rodeo finals get under way the next day at 1 p.m. when the top 10 finishers in each event vie for first place.
Entertainment will be provided on Saturday by the Bad Girls, a team of top women ropers from throughout the west competing in breakaway roping competition. Crowd favorite Charlie Too Tall, the world’s smallest rodeo clown and barrel man, will add some laughs between events. And the Riata Ranch Cowboy Girls will show off their trick riding skills.
The cost is $8 for adults, $5 for students 17 and under. Children under 10 are free, as are WHCC students.
The new modern rodeo arena, completed last year, is at 518 W. Gale Ave. in Coalinga. For more information: westhillscollege.com