Logan Martin, right, of Slippery Rock competes in the PHSRA rodeo at the North Washington Rodeo grounds in April. Martin will head to Farmington, N.M., from July 20-27 to compete in the national rodeo competition.

Despite the discontinuation of the parade and queen contest at the North Washington Rodeo this year, organizers say new attractions will be added to spice things up.

Dave Hazlet, president of North Washington Volunteer Fire Department and organizer for the event, said the parade and contest were canceled due to lack of funds and changing times.

“The cost of having the contest and the insurance that comes with it (is prohibitive), and there are not a lot of parades for them to go to anymore,” he said. “It’s kind of one of those ‘those days are gone’ things.”

Hazlet added that the contest and parade have been around almost as long as the rodeo itself.

“I’m not saying (they) won’t come back,” he said of the events. “We’ll have to look at it.”

Part of the reason for the parade’s cancellation was the cost of fuel for the fire departments that would have participated.

“That played into our parade decision. With gas prices being $6 a gallon, I couldn’t ask departments to spend $150 dollars to go through the parade,” he said.

In the spirit of changing times, Hazlet said the addition of a kick-off party the Monday before rodeo events begin will feature organizations like Boy Scouts, and local fire departments will be present with booths.

“We’re also going to have a beer tent every night except our family nights,” he added. “That’s something else we’re trying out."

Traditional rodeo events like bull riding, steer wrestling and barrel races will all be returning, Hazlet added.

The rodeo runs at 8 p.m. Aug. 16 through 20 at the rodeo grounds, 2225 Oneida Valley Road, Petrolia.