The Kemmerer Little Buckaroo Youth Rodeo was held at the Kemmerer Riding Arena on Saturday, July 8.

The sun beat down relentlessly all day long, but that didn’t stop these youngsters from competing their best.

The rodeo was sponsored by Williams, Exxon and Westmoreland.

The Diamondville Wrestling Club kept the concessions stand going with hamburgers, hot dogs, cold drinks and taco salad.

South Lincoln EMS was present just in case any young rodeo competitors got injured, but these cowboys and cowgirls toughed it out with no injuries all day.

The crowd favorite sheep riding, also known as mutton busting, was a big hit.

In the 0-4 age range, Rowdy Hershberger won 1st place with 58 points, and Drake Burris won 2nd place with 55 points. In the 5-7 Sheep Riders, Treyson Henderson won 1st with 83 points, and Wyatt Miller snatched second with 82 points. Clay Teichert won the 5-7 age group for calf riding with a pretty impressive ride.

For the Jr. Bull and Mini Bull riding event, Brock Roberts rode his way to 1st place with a score of 76 points. He was the only competitor out of the Jr. Bulls and Mini Bulls class that scored.

For the bareback bronc riding, Alex Pringle won the 5-7 age group, Daxton Pope won the 8-10 age group, and Brady Roberts won the 11-14 age group.

The Dummy steer roping gave these cowboys and cowgirls the chance to test their roping skills — sometimes with a little help from Mom and Dad. In the 0-4 age group, Drake Burris won 1st place and Cordyn Millard claimed 2nd. In the 5-7 age group, Kashton Walker won 1st place and Chayzlee Burris won 2nd.

The stick horse barrel races gave parents and the audience quite a laugh, as kiddos kept looking back to their parents for directions on which way to go around the barrels. Cordyn Millard won first in the 0-4 age group, with Halley Mackey in 2nd. Clay Teichert won first for the 5-7 age group, with Presli Pope in 2nd. In the 8-10 age group, Harley Mackey won 1st, and Daxton Pope came in 2nd.

For the goat tail ribbon pull, Cordyn Millard won the 0-4 age group, with Cael Walker coming in second place. Clay Teichert won the 5-7 age group, and Harley Mackey claimed first place for the 8-10 age group.

The calf ribbon pull was a little more challenging. Treyson Henderson won 1st in the 5-7 age group, Kayson Walker claimed first in the 8-10 age group, and Kayla Teichert won the 11-14 age group.

The schedule turned back to horse-riding events with the goat tying. Kashton Walker won first place for the 5-7 age group, Braydee Millard claimed first place for the 8-10-year-olds, Kayla Teichert won the 11-14 age group, and Abby Larsen won the 15-17 age group. 

Landon Walker was the only one to score in the Breakaway Roping event. For Team Roping, Kayson Walker won the 8-10 age group, and Donny Proffit and Hayden Walker claimed first place for the 15-17 age group.

The barrel races were the next event to test the competitors’ rodeo skills.

In the 5-7 age group, Laura Lofthorse won 1st place, and Daylon Harris came in 2nd. Harley Mackey won 1st in the 8-10 age group, with Kyle Fox in 2nd. Kayla Teichert won 1st in the 11-14 age group, and Sorrel Proffit came in second. Teichert also competed in the 15-17 age group barrel races, and won first, with Harley Mackey in 2nd.

For the pole bending event, Laura Lofthorse won the 5-7 age group, Harley Mackey won the 8-10 age group, Quinci Siddoway won the 11-14 age group, and Kayla Teichert won the 15-17 age group.

At the end of the day, buckles were presented to the all-around winners in each age group who had worked hard all day.

Cordyn Millard won the all-around buckle for the 0-4 age group. Clay Teichert won the 5-7 age group buckle. Harley Mackey claimed the buckle for the 8-10 age group, Kayla Teichert won the 11-14 age group and Abby Larsen won the 15-17 age group buckle.