Baca Rodeo to host split rodeo in Belen, Bosque Farms

Belen

If putting on a rodeo isn’t challenging enough, the Casper Baca Rodeo Series is doing something unusual in Valencia County, giving rodeo fans two venues to choose from this year.

For the 47th annual event, Belen and Bosque Farms will split hosting duties over four consecutive weekends, starting March 28.

Holding the rodeo series at dual locations will “spread out the fun-factor a little bit and give everybody a different viewing experience,” CJ Baca said, while creating “some business in Belen and create some business in the Bosque Farms area as well.”

After several years away from the Hub City, the rodeo series returns to Belen at Fat Sats Bar & Grill, utilizing what Baca calls a “mobile arena” on the north side of the property.

“It’s going to be an electric atmosphere,” Baca predicts, with fans close to the action.

Fat Sat’s, on the I-25 Bypass, will be the center of activity March 28-29, April 11-12 and April 18-19. The Bosque Farms Rodeo Association arena, which was the exclusive home to the series the last two years, will host the rodeo on Easter weekend, April 4-5.

“Bosque Farms has been a great venue the past two years,” said Baca. “The event itself is just a little too big and too bearing for a community that has a lot of residential houses around it.”

Baca says he has a good relationship with the BFRA and plans to hold other events in Bosque Farms in the future.

Even before the first cowboy rides out of the chute, there has been plenty of action on the property in Belen.

“There’s a lot to it, a lot of logistics, a lot of things to get in line to make sure everybody is comfortable and safe,” said Baca.

That includes bringing in about 200 yards of dirt in a space behind Fat Sats, which will form the arena. Bucking chutes, holding pens, portable fences and grandstands are also needed, with the livestock taken to an off-location holding site each night.

“It’s a 100 percent turnkey rodeo event that we’re fixing to pull off right here in the parking lot of a bar and grill, which is pretty neat,” said Baca. “It’s taken a lot of community partnerships to pull this off.”

A vacant lot to the east, near Walmart, is being leased and has been prepared for additional parking. Baca encourages carpooling.

Carlo Trujillo, co-owner of Fat Sats along with his brother, Diego, and Ray Chavez, admits he’s not the biggest rodeo fan. However, his friendship with Baca and his crew over the years led to this partnership. At one point, Baca told Trujillo the property would be a great spot for a rodeo.

“We walked out there one evening while we were hanging out, singing some karaoke,” Trujillo recalled. “We said, let’s give it a shot.”

While Baca and his family take care of the rodeo, Trujillo and his team will oversee food trucks, a beer garden and the restaurant.

“It’s going to be a neat thing for the community,” said Trujillo.

Baca admits that he’s a bit nervous, but “it’s a good nervous. It’s anticipation.”

The Belen events will start each day at 2:30 p.m., featuring rough stock competition that includes bull riding, bareback riding and saddle bronc, along with a chance for the younger set to get on sheep, calves, steers and bulls. Roping events will not be featured.

In Bosque Farms, the action begins at 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday of Easter weekend. In addition to rough stock, there will be breakaway roping and barrel racing.

The cost is $12 general admission at the gate, with six and under free.