Little Wrangler Junior Rodeo underway

link Staff photo: Joshua Lucero

Mason Pritchett, 10, of Portales, prepares to rope a calf Tuesday evening during the Little Wrangler Junior Rodeo Association rodeo at the Roosevelt County Fairgrounds.

STAFF WRITER

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For Little Wrangler Junior Rodeo competitor Mason Pritchett, the scariest part of the rodeo is waiting for the gates to open.

Pritchett, along with competitors from around Roosevelt and Curry counties, took to the arena at the Roosevelt County Fairgrounds Tuesday night for the first night of the Little Wrangler Junior Rodeo Association (LWJRA) rodeo.

The 49th annual LWJRA rodeo is set to have rodeos every Tuesday and Saturday night for six weeks, according to LWJRA President Richard Derrer.

Derrer said the Rodeo features roping events on Tuesday nights and speed events on Saturdays for school-age competitors under the age of 19.

Derrer said the rodeos are open to first time competitors and veteran rodeo athletes alike.

Pritchett, who has been competing in the LWJRA rodeo for three years, said he has learned skills like roping and horseback riding from participating in the rodeo.

Pritchett, 10, competed in three events Tuesday night but said his favorite was the calf touch competition. Contestants rope a calf and rush to touch it, much like traditional calf roping without the dangers posed by unruly calves trying to escape.

“I like roping and getting off the horse and touching the calf,” Pritchett said. Pritchett said he gets nervous waiting in the box before taking off to rope a calf.

“It’s scary in the box because the horse is ready to go,” Pritchett said.

First time LWJRA competitor Bonnie Bennett, 16, said she has spent time working on a ranch and was ready to try out rodeo competition.

Bennett, who competed in the breakaway calf roping event, said she has been roping since she was 10-years-old for fun.

Bennett said she was only concerned her horse, Whiskey, did well during Tuesday’s events.

“I’m more concerned about my colt,” Bennett said of the rodeo. “I want him to do good.”

Bennett said she entered the rodeo to help her get better at roping and running her horse.

Derrer said after every Tuesday rodeo the LWJRA will be holding a team roping fundraising event to raise money for the rodeo.

According to Derrer, each participant can sign up to compete in team roping and learn how to rope in a competitive setting.