65 Kids Attend 2024 Bike Rodeo

Over 65 kids from kindergarten through fifth grade brought their bikes to the 2024 4-H Bike Rodeo and Safety Day at the Grant County 4-H Grounds on May 24. The bi-annual rodeo was led by the Grant County 4-H Junior Leaders. The free event was made possible with grants and donations from local businesses. 

Participants were invited to enter drawings for prizes donated by Whimsy on Main, Lewis Drug, Food-N-Fuel, and United Hardware. Maddilyn Beaner and Kolsyn Gortmaker were each the lucky winner of a shiny, new bike donated by United Hardware.

The participants also received a bag filled with a shirt, bike reflector, and bandage dispenser from the Milbank Hospital. Before the event started, bikes were licensed and riders were fitted with a free bike helmet. Peggy Schuelke and other nurses from Milbank Area Hospital Avera assisted with the fittings.

Educational sessions: 

• Bike Safety Check – Jason and William Karels provided necessary repairs. 
• Bike Handling – The Milbank Police Department led the kids on an obstacle course, including a series of cones, to observe bike handling and control, while obeying traffic rules. 
• First Aid – The Grant-Roberts Ambulance demonstrated first aid for bumps and scrapes.
• Bike Ride – Everyone enjoyed a bike ride on Flynn Trail. 
• Bike Safety—Erek Holmquist shared how to be safe on the roadways and how to make hand signals. The South Dakota Highway Patrol presented a lesson on safety. The youth were also allowed to sit in the patrol car.

The coloring contest, a tradition during the event, was won by Natalie Jimenez, Wren Pulling, Sabine Hicks, Briella Streich, and Riley Krause. Each received a bike trophy donated by Street Graphex.  

Whetstone Transfer and Learning Time Preschool served hot dogs, chips, cheese sticks, milk, and ice cream to all the participants and presenters  At the conclusion of the rodeo,each child received a certificate of completion.

Grant County 4-H members Darin Hagen, Hope Karels, Aubree Madsen, Devon Mueller, Mackenzie Mueller, Hunter Reede, Matti Scott, Kayla Schweer, Brock Sime, Cailey Sime, and Connor Wiik served as group leaders. Adult assistance was also provided by Nicole Scott, Susan Sime, Susan Karels, and the Grant County 4-H Office. 

Sponsors and presenters of the 2024 Bike Rodeo: Catholic United Financial, Thrivent Financial, South Dakota Emergency Medical Services for Children (EMSC), Milbank Area Hospital Avera, Avera Medical Group Milbank, Milbank City Police, Erek Holmquist, the South Dakota Highway Patrol, the Grant County Sheriff’s Department, Lewis Drug, Food-N-Fuel, Grant-Roberts Ambulance, Street Graphex, Whetstone Transfer, Learning Time Preschool, Whimsy on Main, United Hardware, Valley Queen, Grant County 4-H, Sime Repair, GCR, and KMSD. 

Don’t Forget! The Bike Rodeo organizers remind youth to continue to wear their bike helmets. If a law enforcement officer finds a youth wearing their helmet, they will receive an ice cream token that can be used at Milbank Hospital-Avera. Any youth in the area who does not have a properly-fitted bike helmet can contact the Grant County 4-H Office at 605-432-9221. Helmets are available. The next 4-H Bike Rodeo and Safety Day will be held in 2026. 

Submitted Photos: Winners of the bikes were Kolsyn Gortmaker and Maddilyn Beaner.Coloring Contest winners left to right, Briella streich, Wren Pulling, Natalie Jimenez, sabine Hicks and Riley Krause.