By Julie Johansen
Friday’s rodeo in Salina was wet, muddy and cold but the rodeo must go on. Despite unfavorable conditions, several Emery and Carbon team members added points to their state scores.
Kolton and Kagen Rhodes were in the top ten in the light rifle shoot, second and fourth, respectively. In the trap shoot, Kagen tied for second and Kolton tied for eighth. Jessica Fox roped fast enough to snag seventh place in breakaway roping. In tie-down roping, Will Magnuson ended in fifth, Hayden Cloward in sixth and Korby Christiansen in 10th. Sierra Edwards was second in poles in a field of 123 pole benders.
Saturday’s rodeo in Mt. Pleasant was a much better weather day but the outside arena was still sticky and slick. Wasatch Academy hosted this rodeo in a new arena. Kolton Rhodes was first in light rifle shooting and Kagen Rhodes was eighth. Kagen also tied for sixth in trap shoot. Jessie McElprang roped in 2.0 seconds and secured 10 points for first place in breakaway. Cloward along with his partner placed second in team roping with a time of 13.7 seconds.
The number of contestants continues to increase and the rodeos last several hours with well over 100 contestants in most areas of competition, excluding rough stock riders and shooting sports. The reining cow horse competition began at 11 p.m. on Saturday evening. Drake Weber finished in second, Riata Christiansen in sixth and Korby Christiansen in seventh.
Junior high shooting sports are held at the same time as the high school. Placing this weekend were Ryker Ekker with two second place finishes, Kashley Rhodes with a seventh and 10th, Thomas McElprang in sixth, and Thomas Ekker in eighth.