Broncs, bulls, barrels conquered at Pioneer Days rodeo
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The second night of the Ronan Pioneer Days Open Rodeo kicked off at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 2 under a clear, warm August sky. The evening began with a moment of patriotism as a single horseman rode into the arena carrying the American flag during the national anthem. The crowd stood silent, hats over hearts, as the flag waved in the evening light —beginning a night full of rodeo contests.
The action got underway right after with Saddled Bronc riding, as cowboys burst from the chutes trying to hold on for a full eight seconds. The arena dirt was mostly dry, but a lingering mud puddle from a previous rainstorm sat squarely in the middle of the arena, kicking up occasional splashes as riders and horses crossed its path.
The rodeo continued with fast-paced team roping and tie-down roping, showcasing quick reflexes and solid teamwork. As the evening moved on, the Ladies Breakaway Roping event brought out tough competition and personal stories. One of the participants, Josey Wilcox, shared why rodeo matters to her and what keeps her coming back:
“I got into doing rodeo because my whole family has been into rodeo, and I am using my sister’s horse tonight. I also may not have done the greatest tonight, but I am gonna keep trying and keep improving and hopefully have a better run in the future.”
She also gave honest advice to anyone looking to start in breakaway roping:
“Keep trying and don’t give up, and be ready to lose a lot because you only really start losing when you give up — anything before that is just time to learn.”
Shortly after came steer riding, where younger, upcoming riders tested their skills. Among them was Thunder Redhorn, who had a strong ride and some grounded advice of his own:
“I felt good about tonight’s ride, and if you ever wanna give riding steers a try, stay in the middle — just be ready for how hard it’s gonna be to stay on since they do buck.”
As the evening progressed, barrel racing approached — one of the most anticipated events of the night. The mud puddle in the middle of the arena added a new element to the pattern, and riders had to decide whether to power through it or swing wide. Due to the high number of entries, several riders were still waiting in the overflow, including veteran rider Yvette Vega, who was spotted preparing with her horse, “Smug,” while watching others compete.
Though she hadn’t made her run yet, Vega shared her years of experience and some advice for aspiring barrel racers:
“I have been riding since I was young and have been competing for 30 to 40 years. Some advice I would give to anyone who wants to get into barrel racing: ride a lot, just practice a lot, and make a good bond with your horse.”
As the sky darkened and the arena lights turned on, the night closed out with the main event — bull riding. The crowd came alive as bulls thundered out of chutes, twisting and kicking with explosive power. Each rider gave it everything they had, some holding on for the full eight seconds, others flying off before the buzzer, but all met with cheers from the crowd. The bulls gave no easy rides and the crowd’s excitement was palpable through the final run.
By the time the last bull left the arena and the announcer gave his thanks, the clouds had thickened a bit overhead, cooling things off, but the rain still held. Fans filed out of the stands, talking about the night’s best rides, close calls, and the muddy arena patch that added further challenge.
