Somewhere on every construction crew, excavation company, grading contractor, or utility team is that one operator everyone talks about—the one who can make a backhoe or excavator do things most people wouldn’t believe.
Now is their chance to prove it.
Organizers of the inaugural No-Bull Equipment Rodeo, coming to the Coarsegold Rodeo Grounds on Saturday, September 12, are inviting heavy equipment operators from throughout the Sierra foothills, Central Valley, and across California to compete in a one-of-a-kind event celebrating the skilled professionals who literally build the foundations of our communities.
Competitor registration is now open, but interested operators are encouraged to sign up early. Each of the rodeo’s five events is limited to just 14 competitors, and participants may enter one event or all five. Open and Novice divisions will give both experienced operators and newcomers an opportunity to compete.
The competition will feature events including Excavator Tire Tennis, Excavator Hole-in-One, Backhoe Basketball, Backhoe Manipulation, and a Skid Loader Obstacle Course, with competitors showcasing the precision, finesse, and control that define the profession.
Organizer Jennifer Rogers said the event was created to recognize an often-overlooked workforce while supporting The Perspectives Project, the nonprofit organization she founded.
“These operators help build the roads we drive on, prepare the foundations for our homes and businesses, install critical infrastructure, and shape the communities we live in every day,” Rogers said. “This is an opportunity to recognize those skills while bringing people together for a great cause.”
The event also offers employers an opportunity to show off the talent within their own companies.
Whether it’s a family-owned excavation business in the foothills or a large contractor from the Central Valley, companies are encouraged to send their best operators to represent their crews. Along with the championship buckle, there will be something else on the line—local bragging rights for both the competitor and the company they represent.
Beyond the competition, the No-Bull Equipment Rodeo will feature food vendors, live music, a beer garden, family activities, and local businesses, creating a full day of entertainment while raising support for The Perspectives Project’s mission of helping individuals discover resilience, purpose, and opportunity.
With competitor spots expected to fill quickly, organizers encourage interested operators to register soon and become part of the inaugural year of what they hope will become a new annual tradition in the Sierra foothills.
Registration information, event details, and sponsorship and vendor opportunities can be found at No-BullRodeo.com and on the competitor registration page through Yosemite Foothills Recreation.
