Biscuits, bacon and buckin’ broncs at the Cowboy Breakfast

MOSES LAKE — The chute opened, the rider came out and for eight seconds, the bull and rider flung themselves every which way. But this time, the bull was inflatable and the rider’s age was a single digit. 

This was the Peewee Stampede Rodeo at the Moses Lake Cowboy Breakfast, the longstanding traditional kickoff to the Grant County Fair. This year’s stick horse rodeo drew about 20 young cowboys and cowgirls. 

“We’re going to have some fun,” said Anne Fisher of Guild Mortgage, which sponsored and organized the stampede.  

Each child who signed up was given a hat to wear, and there were belt buckles for the prizes. 

“All the girls get a tiara and a sash, because we’re going to do a Little Miss Peewee Stampede competition,” Fisher said. She had made the sashes herself, she added. 

“I did them on my kitchen counter last night,” she said. “I always love a craft project.” 

The rodeo began with a grand entrance, all the children marching and holding American flags as the national anthem played. The rodeo events consisted of bareback, barrel racing and bull riding, with prizes for those events as well as all-around cowboy and cowgirl. 

This year, the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce took over managing the breakfast. The chamber estimated a turnout of about 200 people, Executive Director Debbie Doran-Martinez said. 

“The previous group said they did 150 last year,” she said. “So I planned for a little bit more, because we have a little bit lower price point … I'm gonna have to up my number for next year.” 

Breakfast consisted of biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs and bacon, served up by chamber members. Moses Lake DJ Dale Roth spun the music, and Basin RV had a table set up with free toys for the children. The toys proved popular and disappeared quickly. 

“We should have brought more toys,” Basin RV owner RJ McFadden said. “This is what we love to do. We just love to support community and get out here and show our faces and shake hands and say hello.” 

    Between 175 and 200 people came out Friday morning for the Cowboy Breakfast, the traditional kickoff to the Grant County Fair in Moses Lake. This is the first year the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce has managed the breakfast.
  

    Nine-year-old Kathlyn Campos of Moses Lake, right, signs up to compete in the Peewee Stampede Friday morning. Each competitor got a free hat, and there were belt buckles and sashes for prizes.
  

    Claire Price, 9, of Moses Lake holds onto her bucking bronc at the Cowboy Breakfast Friday.