Cowboys ride at Adams Co. Fair

OTHELLO - The Othello Rodeo Association presented the 60th annual Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Rodeo event last Friday and Saturday night.

The rodeo events are held in conjunction with the Adams County Fair in Othello each year.

With more than $22,000 in prize money up for grabs at the Adams County Fair event, top rodeo competitors from as far away as Texas rode in to attempt to capture their share of the loot.

Wowing the capacity crowd more than 2000 paying spectators was J.J. Harrison, the rodeo clown.

Harrison filled the downtime between events stumbling and bumbling around the rodeo arena much to the delight of the crowd, said Othello Rodeo Association board member Chuck Helman.

"They really like him," Helman said. "He keeps the audience involved."

Members of the professional rodeo circuit lead a vagabond lifestyle with participants choosing which events to compete in to gain the most points before the rodeo finals.

Cowboy John Jardine has participated in the circuit for seven years and makes a living doing what he loves.

"I make a pretty good living, when I'm not hurt," Jardine said. "Injuries are a part of the sport and many riders ride hurt."

Jardine had a sprained ankle while participating in this year's event.

Dealing with pain is nothing new to Jardine.

"Lots of ibuprofen," he said of how he handles the pain when competing.

Othello Rodeo Association board member Larry Benzel said the show was fantastic and was pleased at how many cowboys and cowgirls participated.

"We had full racks for both bull riding and bucking broncos," Benzel said.

Big Bend Rodeo Company, Flying Five Rodeo Company and Palmer-Smith Cattle Company provided the stock for the event and cowboys attempted to ride bulls and broncs which have appeared at the National Finals Rodeo.

The all-around cowboy honors went to Brett Hale of Tenio, Wash. Hale took home $1095 of the $22,000 up for grabs.

Complete results

Barrel Racing

1) Debbie Stahl

2) Chris Powers

3) Gretchen Schultz

Bull Riding

1) Jay Morrow

2) Zach Oakes

3) Allen Hemuth

Team Roping

1) B.J. Cambell and

Russell Cardoze

2) David Kay and

Marty Becker

3) Brett Hale and

Rick Copher

Saddle Bronc Riding

1) Frank McKay

2) Taos Muncy

3) Isaac Diaz

Bareback Riding

1) Bobby Mote

2) Dustin Muirony

3) Steven Peebles

Steer Wrestling

1) Blake Knowles

2) Rhett Kennedy

3) Seth Bockman

Tie Down Roping

1) Doug Pharr

2) Nathan Steinberg

3) Ty Holly