Lost Dutchman Days Rodeo Feb. 21-23

By Richard Dyer
Mail | X: @RHDyer

The 61st Annual Lost Dutchman Days Rodeo will draw thousands to the city of Apache Junction and its shops and stores.

The rodeo, a rain-or-shine event to be held Feb. 21-23 with all proceeds donated back to local children’s organizations, is presented by the Lost Dutchman Days Committee, a partnership of the Apache Junction Mounted Rangers and Superstition Mountain Promotional Corp.

New for 2025, seating will be increased with additional bleachers on the west and east sides of the main bleachers at the rodeo grounds, 1590 E. Lost Dutchman Blvd., said Lost Dutchman Days Committee Chair Sherry Coker.

“We’re adding two more bleachers this year. One will be on the west side and one on the east side of the big grandstands, angled at the corners, angled toward the arena,” she said. “The ones that they have had over by the other bleachers on the north side — they are going to be that same size. We’re not selling any more tickets, we’re just going to have extra seats and be more comfortable.”

Just like in 2024, a set number of tickets will be sold for each day’s rodeo performance and patrons will not be able to transfer days so those buying are asked to ensure tickets are purchased for the correct day.

Limiting the number of tickets went well last year, Coker said.

“It went really well. We didn’t have to worry about people getting mad not having a seat once they bought a ticket. It was perfect; full stands Friday, Saturday and Sunday,” she said.

Since 1994, more than $1.6 million has been donated to children’s charities from funds raised through the rodeo. Funds raised go to charities that do good works in the community.

“The rodeo is top-notch. We are the only sanctioned rodeo that is totally nonprofit. So everything we make from the rodeo and Lost Dutchman Days goes back to the kids of Apache Junction,” Coker said.

Rodeo royalty chosen

Lost Dutchman Days rodeo royalty were chosen Jan. 11 after horsemanship tests at the rodeo grounds and ceremonies at the Apache Junction Multi-generational Center. They are Jaelee Mernaugh, queen; Mariah Moreno, senior teen queen; Lexi Gardner, junior teen queen; and Remi and Chloe Houston, both as little miss LDD.

There were 17 entrants this year, including six for little miss LDD.

“The horsemanship went fabulous — all the girls did wonderful,” Royalty Director Heidi Erickson said prior to the ceremonies at the Multi-generational Center.

Two of the 17 entrants were participants only and were not considered for the rodeo royalty titles, she said.

“What participating means is they’re still going to be judged but they’re not going to win a title — they’re just doing this for practice. They’re new at it,” Erickson said.

She encouraged local residents to attend the rodeo and its associated events.

“The rodeo is so much fun. Not just the rodeo, but you have the carnival, you have over 200 vendors. But the rodeo is just a ton of fun, the energy is great, they have a drill team, all of the visiting (rodeo) royalty, and then all of the events are wonderful,” she said.

Judges for the rodeo royalty competition, which included horsemanship tests for all but the little miss LDD contestants and personal interviews, were Marissa Mansingh, who was Lost Dutchman Days Rodeo queen in 2020 and 2021; Apache Junction Mayor Chip Wilson; and Donna Flibbert, who was a Lost Dutchman Days Rodeo queen attendant in 1988.

Wilson said it was the first time he had been a judge for the rodeo royalty competition and that he enjoyed it.

Competing for rodeo royalty is a great experience, said Queen Creek resident Melanie Mansingh. She volunteered at the lunch line at the rodeo royalty pageant and attended in part because her daughter was rodeo queen a couple years ago.

“It’s a real great experience for all of the contestants to practice their horsemanship skills, their speaking skills, public appearance,” she said.

2025 rodeo

The full eight-event rodeo sanctioned by the Grand Canyon Professional Rodeo Association has cowboys and cowgirls competing for prize money beginning at 1:30 p.m. each day at the Apache Junction Rodeo Grounds, 1590 E. Lost Dutchman Blvd., at Tomahawk Road.

The rodeo features hundreds of contestants, all of whom put up an entry fee to win the coveted Lost Dutchman Days Rodeo prize money and belt buckles.

The classic events include bareback, calf roping, saddlebronc, steer wrestling, ladies breakaway roping, barrel racing, team roping and the crowd favorite of bull riding.

Theme days are: “Tough Enough to Wear Pink” on Friday, “We Are AJ Day” on Saturday and military and first-responders day on Sunday. A kids grocery race is planned Saturday and Sunday during the rodeo.

Adult tickets are $20 for the rodeo and $15 for ages 10 and under at the gate, with a $2 discount on both for advance purchases. Advance rodeo and carnival ticket sales are only available at the Apache Junction Area Chamber of Commerce, 567 W. Apache Trail in Apache Junction; 480-982-3141. Carnival tickets cost $35 for an all-day ride pass if bought early (quantity limited) or $45 at the event.

Mutton bustin’

Those competing in the mutton bustin’ event after the rodeo Feb. 22 will be required to wear a vest and provided helmet. (Special to Independent Newsmedia/Arianna Grainey)

The mutton bustin’ competition for ages 4-7 who are under 60 pounds in weight will be Saturday, Feb. 22, immediately following the rodeo. They must have rodeo tickets for Saturday’s performance to participate. Register at 1 p.m. until full or at the end of barrel racing on Feb. 22 at the rodeo west of the grandstands under the pop-up tent. Cost is $30 per rider, cash only, with a limit of 45 riders.

A carnival, the rodeo, vendor booths, free entertainment, food and more will be Feb. 21-23 at the main Event Center at the Apache Junction Rodeo Grounds, 1590 E. Lost Dutchman Blvd. Event Center admission is $2; and parking is free.

Free entertainment at the Carnival Stage at the rodeo grounds will be offered Feb. 21-23:

• Friday, Feb. 21: 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Canyon State Band; 3-6 p.m., Billy G and The Kids.
• Saturday, Feb. 22: 10 a.m.-noon, Roadhouse Wranglers; 12:30-3:30 p.m., Way Out West Band; 4-7 p.m., Livin’ on Mars.
• Sunday, Feb. 23: 10-11 a.m., Cowboy Church with Steve Edwards and the Broken Chair Band; 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Sue Dolan and the Rusty Wagon Band; 2-5 p.m., Outside the Line.

For a full list of events, go to lostdutchmandays.org.

Richard H. Dyer can be reached at rdyer@iniusa.org, or on X @rhdyer. To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.

Richard Dyer
Managing Editor | East Valley

rdyer@iniusa.org

Meet Richard
Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA since 1987, starting his career in Apache Junction as a copy editor and being promoted over the years to work as the editor of the Mesa Independent, news services editor for the East Valley office in Apache Junction, managing editor for the East Valley office, news services editor for the East Valley office and eventually also for the newspapers at INI’s then-Chandler office, managing editor again and as a news editor covering Apache Junction/Gold Canyon and Queen Creek. He helped start the Florence Independent while the news editor covering Apache Junction and Mesa news. In January 2023, he became associate managing editor for the East Valley newspapers and in August 2023 became managing editor for the East Valley newspapers of Chandler/Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Florence, Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, while also reporting on Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon.  

Community: Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions. 

Education: University of Arizona with a master of arts in journalism and a bachelor of science in agricultural communication. Also continuing education at Mesa Community College in welding in a metal art sculpture class.

Random fact: Saw his first tornado on May 31, 2010, which was classified as an EF-2, as part of a stormchasing tour group.

Hobbies: He is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows.