Inaugural Kiwanis Bike Rodeo event set for May 17

Helmets on, kickstands up as the Medford Kiwanis get ready for their first annual bike rodeo.

On May 17 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. outside the Medford Raider Field, the community’s children are invited to bring their own bikes and come out rain or shine to learn standard bicycle safety and participate in a bike course.

Participants will go through stations starting with registration, helmet-fitting, basic safety, and a bike check to ensure that seats and handlebars are at the appropriate height. Once the stations are completed attendees will ride their bikes through a pattern which involves bobbing and weaving through cones and riding in straight lines.

Kids will be given a card to be stamped at each station. After the card has been stamped in its entirety, trailblazers will have the opportunity to enter their card in a drawing for a free bicycle.

In addition to bike action the county’s public service workers will be present in the form of police, firefighters and EMT’s. Kids and community members alike are encouraged to check out the emergency vehicles and mingle with the helpers in uniform.

The Aspirus Foundation is providing a free helmet to each child at the event, though participants should also bring their own helmets to ensure proper fit.

“Aspirus has been a big supporter,” said Karen Block of Kiwanis.

As well as Aspirus, Kiwanis has seen major support from the Taylor County Health Department, Medford Motors as they will have e-bikes on hand for adults age 18 plus to check out, Kwik Trip has donated bananas to the event, Nestle has donated pizza, Marathon Cheese is giving cheese sticks, the Taylor County Dairy Association is donating milk, Ag Country is giving napkins and H& R Block will provide water.

That’s right, in addition to the bike rodeo food at this event is free and will be served out of the concession stand.

Kids will need to have an adult present to participate, and little ones without a bike will not be discouraged from joining in the fun. The bike drawing will take place at 1:30 p.m. and entrants do not need to be present to win.

“We’re thankful for all the people who have jumped in, so far it has just been amazing,” said Larry Diepenbrock, also of Kiwanis. They have received a micro grant from the Kiwanis Children’s Fund to host this event. “We’re hoping to make it an annual event if everything goes well.”

Block and Diepenbrock report that most of their functions require quite a few helping hands, and they’re always looking for new members who are interested in helping the community’s children.

“Kids are important to me, and that is Kiwanis’ mission statement, I like doing anything that involves kids and keeping them safe or helping them to improve their lives,” stated Block.

Diepenbrock said, “If you serve the kids, then you serve the community.”