(Lander, WY) – The Lander Elks Lodge held the return of their Bike Rodeo last weekend, where close to two hundred attendees got to enjoy a bike obstacle course, a free helmet giveaway (over 100 were handed out), a bike repair station, hot dogs, prize handouts, and a bike giveaway, where bikes were divvied out to 25 lucky kiddos out of the 125 who signed up for the raffle.
Around 50 Elks Lodge volunteers manned the event, which had participation and/or donations from the Elk’s Foundation, the Lander Fire Departments, the Lander Police Department, Injury Prevention Resources, the Lander Cycling Club, Atlantic City Federal Credit Union’s Gold Bison Foundation, Drug Awareness, Head Start, and a number of other individual volunteers.
Lander Elk’s Lodge Exalted Ruler Mike Juvinall shared that the whole community helped make sure the Rodeo was an event to remember, with Mr. D’s donating the hot dogs and Pepsi donating water.
The water was especially needed after the kids completed the obstacle course multiple times, which Juvinall said was the biggest hit.
“They haven’t stopped!” Elks member Peggy Sue Wolf commented.
While the Elks have done the Bike Rodeo in the past, it’s been so long since it was a regular thing that they are looking at the 2025 event as the “inaugural” year, and Juvinall shared that it was such a hit that plans are already being made for next year.
“We are definitely planning on doing this again next year. Yes, definitely. The turnout’s been phenomenal.”
“We do want (to give) a big thank you to the community that helped support the Elks, helped support this, and give this opportunity for the kids to be safe,” Juvinall went on to comment.
Another fun thing for kids to look forward to, which ties into the helmet giveaway at the Bike Rodeo, is an upcoming partnership with the Lander Police Department.
Using funds that the Elks Lodge has raised, Juvinall explained that this summer, participating Lander Police Department officers will reward any kids they see wearing their Bike helmets with gift certificates for ice cream or slushies.
“So as the Lander Police Department drives around throughout the summer and throughout the year and they see a kid with a helmet on, (they’re) going to give them an ice cream token ticket.”
Juvinall said the idea is to promote bike safety while also rewarding the positive behavior.
In the meantime, check out some photos of all the Bike Rodeo fun below!
