T-L Photo/JOSIE BURKHART Bob Montag, owner of Rafter M Arena, gets ready for a rodeo this weekend with the horses and bulls that will make appearances.

BELMONT — Bull riding, bareback riding and barrel racing will be among the events spectators can watch contestants compete in at this month’s Rafter M Rodeo.

Bob Montag, owner of the Rafter M Arena, hosts a rodeo each June, July, August and September, and this month’s event is set for Saturday.

The rodeo will start at 7 p.m. Saturday, but Montag said spectators should get to the area by 5:30 p.m. to get a seat in the bleachers, which fill up quickly.

“I like seeing the kids come out here enjoying it,” he said, “getting away from the computers and stuff today and the phones and just coming to have fun. It’s a different way of life that we live.”

The rodeo is at the Rafter M Arena, 62669 Ault Road, Belmont, and tickets can be purchased at the gate with cash. Children under 2 can get in for free.

The rodeo will also have food vendors, including MonGo’s BBQ, and gyros, nachos and cheese and hamburgers as well. Other vendors, such as people selling crafts, cowboy hats, boots and Western apparel, will also be at the rodeo.

There will be live entertainment by Matt Carson, who Montag said performs old-style country music, played before the rodeo starts and for a couple hours after it ends.

“This is basically made for kids,” Montag said of the event. “This is revolved around the kids in the Western atmosphere and the country scene.”

Coolers are not permitted as beer will be sold at the event, Montag noted.

Contestants competing in the rodeo are from all over the country, and Montag said there could be anywhere from 80-120 pre-registered contestants ready to win prize money and advance to the International Pro Rodeo finals held in Guthrie, Oklahoma.

Contestants competing in this rodeo are qualifying for the finals and for a monetary prize. Montag said the money won equals the points the contestants gain for qualification.

Each rodeo event will have a first, second and third place finisher, but that could increase to more places depending on the number of contestants in the event.

Animals including horses, bulls and sheep will be involved in the rodeo.

Contestants will compete in events such as bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, barrel racing, team roping and bull riding as the last event.

Sheep riding is also available for children 50 pounds and under. Another activity children can enjoy is listening to the rodeo clown that will be there. Trick riders will also be at the rodeo to provide more entertainment for spectators.

There will be no referees for the rodeo, but there will be judges.

Montag said he enjoys bull riding because he competed in that event for 20 years.

He described the rodeo lifestyle as an “addiction.”

“It’s like an addiction, you could say. It’s exciting,” he noted. ” … You’re battling an animal that weighs 2,000 pounds. It’s you against beasts really, and to conquer that, it’s exciting.”

Those interested in this rodeo can also find the Rafter M Rodeo traveling to other venues, including the Belmont County Fair, set for the first week of September.

Montag said holding the shows is a way to give back to the community because he appreciates all the sponsors and community support he has for this rodeo.

He noted that he strives to do positive things and build a successful business.

He emphasized that this is a family-friendly event and said quality family entertainment is his family’s signature line and what they represent.

“It’s a family entertainment,” Montag said. “It’s for all ages. Kids love it.”