Threat of Rain Doesn't Keep Crowds Away at Allendale Rodeo

 The threat of rain did not keep people away from the Allendale Rodeo this year, as the seats were full for the 34th annual edition. 

There was a new clown this year as Josh Roberts, only 15 years old, came up from Arkansas to do the honors. One of his first jokes was that he met a girl from Allendale, but she turned out to be cross-eyed because they could never see eye to eye. Trying to get everyone pumped up, he asked if they were at a church or a rodeo. “It seems like some people need some Mellow Yellow,” he said. 

The rodeo arena was muddy from the on-again off-again rains Saturday. It helped the contestants in some events and hurt them in others. One event that got some participants after not having had much interest the past few years was the steer wrestling. Two contestants placed as Luke Moore got his steer down in 7.2 seconds and Logan Leiderman got his down in 7.79. One contestant allegedly landed so hard according to Josh that the water went anywhere but the hole. Another time, he talked about stepping in a hole so deep, he wound up in China and heard the people there talking. Another time during the event, Josh and the announcer debated the pronunciation of “Y’all.” 

The noise contest was another subject of debate between Rodeo Clown Josh and the announcer. The south side, pumped up by Josh, was noisier, but the announcer claimed victory for his side, “because the Baptist preacher is sitting on my side.” 

Three contestants in the breakaway roping overcame the muddy conditions as Cassie Adams won with 2.9 seconds, Maddie Schultz got a 3.42, and Ashton Joy got 3.6.

The muddy conditions actually made it easier on the Saddle Bronc and Ranch Bronc riders. Wade Madden got a 70 in the event. Another contestant had their horse collapse coming out of the gate and had to re-ride. 

The most popular event, and one which the contestants have had the most difficulty with was the team roping. Only two out of 12 contestants got a qualified ride, as Tanner Schultz and Tate Judd won with a time of 6.7, and Shawn Murphy and Donna McNeese were the other qualified contestants with a time of 12.4. The conditions were easier for the contestants in this event Friday, as four of the six successfully roped their calf.

There was a scare in the Barrel Racing, as one of the contestants fell off her horse in the slick and muddy conditions and had to be taken to the Ambulance, prompting three other contestants to drop out. All of the contestants were really cautious in the slick conditions.

The announcer observed that you could tell if someone from Arkansas graduated from school if they brushed their teeth. Clown Josh said after the bull tossed one rider particularly high in the air that he didn’t know there was an airport in Allendale. One contestant, Leroy Miller, did manage a successful ride with a score of 72.