'The greatest show on dirt'
NORTH WASHINGTON — Cheers, whistles and country music filled the stands of the North Washington Rodeo on Friday as fans settled in for an evening of competition.
The rodeo arena filled with bareback horse riding, calf roping and steer rustling as it continued into its final day on Saturday.
Doug and Tina Kriley of Herman watched the rodeo with their family Friday.
“We come every year,” Tina Kriley said. “This year, we came twice.”
Tina Kriley said for the kids it's an awesome experience.
“You can see the excitement in their eyes,” she said.
Of all the events, bull riding was the most anticipated competition of the evening.
“It's exciting if they stay on it; it's terrible if they don't,” said Audrey Brown of New Castle.
Jayden Keene of Eau Claire said his father has been bringing him to the rodeo since he was a baby.“I like the danger,” Jayden said.Aside from watching cowboys gripping and hanging on to bucking animals, children also had fun checking out penned-up animals, looking at the display of tractors, and playing under the bleachers.Mickey Bowser of Worthington watched as his son ate some fried food.He said he was looking forward to his son seeing the clowns in action.“I think it's very family-friendly,” Bowser said. “He likes to sit on the tractors and stuff.”
Stephanie Hartzell of Knox and her boyfriend, Jerrod Boor of Pittsburgh, brought many of her nieces and nephews.“They were pretty pumped to come,” Hartzell said. “The food and the bulls. They're kids, and they love running ragged.”Dave Hazlet, the rodeo committee's chairman, said people from all over the state and country have come to compete and watch.“This is the greatest show on dirt,” Hazlet said. “We get people who come here every night.”Hazlet said the rodeo also serves as the major fundraiser for the North Washington Volunteer Fire Department.“It's a volunteer department, and it keeps our department running,” Hazlet said. “It takes new gear and equipment to keep them safe.”As the event continued into the darkening sky, the announcer asked the crowd to make some noise, and packed stands erupted in an uproar of applause, whooping and cheering.
