Annual Little Buckaroo Rodeo brings out hundreds of little buckaroos
FIRTH – The 55th annual Little Buckaroo Rodeo brought hundreds of spectators out to watch hundreds of young cowboys and cowgirls compete.
The Little Buckaroo Rodeo was held in Firth last weekend on August 6 and 7 at the Riverview Arena. Â Nestled in cottonwood trees next to the Snake River, the arena was packed each night with patrons who watched 378 children participate in the children-only rodeo. (See rodeo highlights)
The rodeo events included sheep riding (mutton busting), goat ribbon pulling, goat ribbon tying, stick pony racing, barrel racing, wild goat milking, and calf riding.
The sheep riding event appeared to be the most difficult. Putting tiny legs around a substantial girth of ewe’s tummy to hold onto is quite challenging. Of the dozens of children ranging in age from five to eight, Tearsa Painter was one of only a few who mastered this event by riding her ewe to the far end of the arena.
The wild goat milking event required a variety of skills from its competitors. In teams of two, competitors corraled the goat, and while one kept it secure, the other milked it with one hand and holding a cup in the other. The third leg of this animal triathlon was for the milker to return to the judges with a cup of fresh, warm goat’s milk and gulp it down.
The highlight of the night for the children was the greased pig and chicken scramble. (Watch Pig Scramble #1)
“They have two pig scrambles a night, where the one who catches the pig is given $75 to go toward their 4H animal showing at any county fair the next year,” Little Buckaroo Rodeo director Dixie Mecham Finck said. “As for the chicken scramble, each child who catches a chicken gets to keep it.”
In addition, each rodeo participant was given a commemorative belt buckle.
Judges Mark Pratt and his son Seth Pratt capped off each night with hilarious commentary. They ran each event and passed judgment on the outcome.
“Mark has been announcing for us for thirty years,” Finck said. “It was his son Seth’s first year helping his dad. Mark’s wife Wendy also helps in the announcer stand too.”
Finck said Pratt Livestock provided the calves for the event. Jonathan Jensen of Shelley provided the sheep.
Many of Firth High School’s Future Farmers of America students worked behind the scenes to help the contestants settle in on their ewe or calf and act as clowns helping the children in the arena.
The Firth FFA Alumni has operated the rodeo for more than 30 years. The rodeo is now in its fourth generation of youth. All of the proceeds from the event go to the Firth 4H and FFA Chapters.
“The rodeo event is so popular in the community that families plan reunions around it,” Finck said. “We had children from Washington, Utah, Texas, and Colorado participating in tonight’s rodeo.”
The two-day rodeo event was highlighted by a cowboy breakfast on the lawn east of Firth High School and a parade down Main Street on the morning of Aug. 7.
This year, the parade’s Grand Marshall was Chet Adams of Adams Anus Acres in Lavaside along the Snake River. He has been a predominant member of the Firth community for years.
“I love to be a part of this rodeo every year,” he said. “It’s an honor to be grand marshall.”
After the parade, a maker’s market was set up at Firth Park. Children of all ages participated in this event by selling items they had made themselves. These items included bracelets, plants, stickers, candy, and leather-worked products.
Author’s Note: I looked forward to attending my first Little Buckaroo Rodeo of which I had heard about for years. The event exceeded my expectations. It was so much fun to watch these young people perform and see their families cheer them on. The breakfast was fantastic, as was the parade. I was so impressed by the products made at the marker’s market. Next year, I plan to bring my older children to this rodeo to experience the excitement, comradery, and caring nature of people who live in Firth.
