GRANTS - Young, aspiring rodeo stars strutted their stuff during the Grants Rodeo Association's Junior Rodeo events of Wild West Days. Many of the kid “cowpokes” come from rodeo families, in which dad and older siblings have coached and encouraged them in their rodeo dreams.

One of the many young competitors reins his mount during opening ceremonies at the 84th Annual ‘Wild West Days’ Rodeo at the Grants Rodeo Grounds during the Fourth of July weekend.BEACON / ROMERO

These youngsters are on a first name basis with horses, bulls, cows and sheep, which provide the challenges during various events in the junior division.

Children as young as three years old participated in the “mutton busters” event, in which they tried to stay on the back of a sheep until a buzzer sounded. Some of the young riders were thrown from their sheep before they got out of the chute, while others stayed mounted for the entire ride.

Some of the rides would qualify for “the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat” footage formerly used by ABC Sports. More than once, a child fell under his sheep as the animal rolled over him, but all of these riders emerged unscathed by the experience.  But win or lose, each young competitor earned a big round of applause following his or her appearance.

Event announcer Rick Lehman of Arizona made sure that each child received recognition by the audience, even though many in the crowd were parents of children competing against the child being applauded.

The ambience of the event resembled a big family reunion, where there were some friendly competitions going on. Attendees and participants were unfailingly friendly and polite, with the young ones having their “Yes sirs” and “Yes, ma'ams” in order.

Although I had forgotten to wear my press pass, the man taking entrance fees believed that I was indeed a Beacon reporter and waved me through. Although various participants had their own private cheering sections, the whole crowd graciously applauded all the young competitors.

Two of the enduring images from the Junior Rodeo were three-year-old Cole McCoy riding a sheep and mutton buster Joseph Chavez waving to the crowd and throwing his cowboy hat into the air following a successful ride on a sheep.

Jamie Holton of the Grants Rodeo Association explained the various levels of competition in Junior Rodeo. “The boy kids who are six-years-old and younger can compete in mutton busting, calf riding, steer riding, barrel racing, flag racing and pole bending. The girls in that age group can participate in goat tagging and sheep riding,” she said.

The competitions get more rigorous at older ages. “In the seven to nine-year old category, the kids can also compete in goat tying and breakaway roping, while the ten to thirteen-year-old boys graduate to ribbon roping, calf roping and team roping,” Holton said.

“The girls in the 14 to 18-year old group can participate in barrel racing, breakaway roping, team roping and goat tying while the boys in that category can also compete in steer wrestling, bull riding, saddle bronc and calf and team roping,” she added.

It is possible for participants in the Junior Rodeo to compete against older cowboys in the Open Rodeo and some of them placed well against their seniors.

Holton pointed out that a free pancake breakfast and church service was provided on site on July 5 for anyone who showed up. Next weekend a NMJRA competition will be held at the Rodeo Grounds.

Look in the Friday, July 19 Beacon for a list of results from the 2009 'Wild West Days' Rodeo.