Rodeo is Ridin', Ropin', and Racin'

Zanen Pitts steps off his roping horse on his way to throwing the calf and tying it down during the Tie-down calf-roping on Saturday night. Zanen roped and tied down his calf in 13.8 seconds.

by Marla Hall Lake County Leader
| August 8, 2019 5:07 PM

Zanen Pitts steps off his roping horse on his way to throwing the calf and tying it down during the Tie-down calf-roping on Saturday night. Zanen roped and tied down his calf in 13.8 seconds.

What will fill grandstands in Ronan on a Summer Friday or Saturday night—or a Sunday afternoon? Rodeo!

The stands were packed as were the Beer Gardens and the fence line around the rodeo arena in Ronan for all three rodeo events. Fans cheered for the entrants who had success in their events as well as for those who came up short and they cheered for the pick-up men, Jesse Johnston and Pete White, and the bull fighters, Bo Herak and Chris Corpron who saved many riders at all three events.

Each rodeo also had a Calcutta event at the end of the rodeo where fans bet hundreds of dollars on riders of broncs (Friday night), steers (Saturday night) or Buffalo (Sunday afternoon). Those who bet on the winning rider then split the entire pot with the Rodeo committee which was raising money for scholarships.

Many of the cowboys and cowgirls who competed on one or more days were local talents and the stock that were their challengers were some of the best around.

Several of the broncs and bulls have been to the National Rodeo Finals or the Indian National Finals Rodeo. The competition between human and beasts made for lots of thrills and spills and although some of the competitors may have been disappointed with the results of their efforts, the fans in the bleachers definitely were not.