LAKEPORT >> It was a rodeo to which they all came. The grandstands buzzed with spectators as the chutes teemed with stock. Cowgirls and boys from as far off as Hawaii and as close as just blocks away, along with their families and scores of local Lake County Rodeo fans, crowded the Lake County Fairgrounds in Lakeport Friday and Saturday for the 89th Annual Lake County Rodeo.
The volunteer-run Lake County Rodeo Association, helmed by President Adam Peters, organized the event. Sanctioned by the California Cowboys Professional Rodeo Association, the Lake County Rodeo presented competition at both state and local levels. From bull riding to cowchip bingo to praises of ‘Ol’ Glory,’ the Lake County Rodeo delivered.
A Willie Nelson tune spilled out from the loudspeakers Friday evening as announcer Ted Dwyer made the climb to the booth to greet the crowd and announce, as the first order of business in a two-day show, Lake County’s Rodeo Queen. Brianna Thomas, Vice President of the Clear Lake Junior Horsemen, took the prize. Danelle Maglieta was named Rodeo Princess.
Barrelman Charlie Too-Tall West rounded up the contestants of the “Cutest Little Cowpoke” contest—a bid to find the most adorable four through eight-year-old cowboy and cowgirl in Lake County—and picked a winner based on the crowd’s cheers. Winners Riley and Wyatt received the most fanfare, looking embarrassed but more than a little proud.
In what Dwyer joked was “the only legal form of child abuse,” an alternately giddy and frightened crew of brave youngsters mounted equally spooked young sheep in a throw to see which kid could hold on the longest. A young girl named Shelby won Friday’s Mutton Bustin’ competition with a triumphant score of 87 points.
Grand Marshal Jill Shaul graced the arena with a performance of the National Anthem, her 30th since 1988, as hundreds of off-white cowboy hats were affixed before hundreds of red-blooded American hearts.
Due in part to the glare of the setting sun behind the hills, not one of the contestants in the women’s calf roping competition roped a calf Friday, though some came close.
The action picked up and kept going through Saturday evening, with a long roster of events including bareback and saddle bronco riding, steer wrestling, Clearlake Junior Horsemen processions, and team calf roping competitions. A dance Saturday night capped of a weekend of good times.
