FIRTH — Six decades of small-town tradition will roll back into town as the Little Buckaroo Rodeo celebrates its 60th year, kicking off Friday and Saturday, July 31 and Aug. 1, at 7 p.m. each night at the Firth Riverview Arena.

A parade follows Saturday at 11 a.m., with lineup beginning at 10:30 a.m. at Firth High School, and a Cowboy Breakfast rounds out the weekend Saturday from 8 to 10 a.m. at Firth City Park.

Rodeo tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for veterans, seniors and children ages 5 to 12, and free for children under 5, available at the gate.

Hosted by the Firth FFA Alumni with help from local FFA chapter members, the event puts young cowboys and cowgirls ages 0 to 12 in the arena for two nights of rodeo action, followed by a community celebration at the city park.

This year’s parade carries the theme “America 250,” and the rodeo stock comes courtesy of Pratt Livestock of Blackfoot and Jonathan Jensen of Firth.

The rodeo has run annually in Firth for six decades, said Karisa Hillman, an organizer with the event, and it’s grown into something the whole community leans on.

“Kids have their own little booths that they become entrepreneurs, and that’s right after the parade in the local park,” Hillman said.

The event traces back to the local grange, which first started it before the FFA alumni took over organizing duties.

“We’ve got a little rodeo ground that’s dedicated to it right by the river, and it’s just a really fun atmosphere,” Hillman said.

This year’s rodeo events remain the same as in years past, but organizers are especially excited about this year’s parade grand marshal, Stewart Portela of Firth. Portela is being honored for his decades of service to the Firth community, including 42 years as a public school teacher and 37 years as a coach, along with his longtime work organizing Veterans Day programs and supporting local veterans and law enforcement.

“Everyone’s favorite patriot,” Hillman said, adding that Portela was selected for his years serving veterans and “helping teach a love of country” to kids in the community.

Community involvement remains central to keeping the event alive in a small town, Hillman said.

“We’re a small town, and we want it to stay that way. It’s really important for community members to be involved so it can continue,” she said.

Proceeds from the rodeo primarily go toward supporting the local FFA chapter’s travel to competitions, including the National FFA Convention.

For first-time attendees, Hillman said the parade of contestants opens the night, with young cowboys and cowgirls walking into the arena before the crowd, followed by the event’s signature finish, a Chicken Scramble for kids 5 and under.

“The grand finale of the night is a chicken chase, where all kids can get in the arena and try to catch their own chicken to take home,” Hillman said.