In 1980 over 100 children participated in the first Wild Rice bike rodeo. Since then it has been an annual event.
Members of the Deer River Police Department and Bike Patrol, Itasca County Sheriff's Office, Deer River Fire
Department, Deer River Ambulance, plus many individual volunteers are on hand to give bikes a safety inspection
and score as the youngsters tested their bike skils on the obstacle course before the prize drawings.
The bike rodeo takes place at the Cyrus M. King Elementary School. Once each youngster completes their skills
tests they are offered pop and treats. The treats, visiting, riding their bikes and checking out the prize bikes
keeps the youngsters occupied until it is time for the main event, the drawing of the bike winners.
There are prizes and gift certificates donated by local businesses and individuals to be given away so that
none of the children attending the annual bike rodeo go home empty.
In 1990 the Deer River Lions Club sponsored the first sawdust scramble which had $200 dollars in coins buried
in the pile. Forty-five down and dirty kids through age eight participated. It has been an annual event for the
children to look forward to ever since.
The cheers from the sidelines keep the four-year-old to 11-year-old youngsters trying hard to pedal as far as they
could durring the Kiddy Tractor Pull. Each age group has several entrants vying for the trophies and an opportunity
to compete in the State Tractor Pull!
