Packed house for finale

Traffic was backed up and the stands were full on the last night of the Lewiston Roundup, which was celebrating 90 years of rodeo.

The stands were packed as 6,473 attended Saturday night. The total for the four days of the 2024 rodeo was 18,699, an increase from 15,225 in 2023, according to roundup Director Willie Deibel.

Saturday was Patriot Night, and veterans and active military were asked to stand to be honored by the crowd. Roundup royalty from 1955 to 2023 held a giant American flag in the center of the arena during the opening ceremony.

But then the events took over the action in the arena. Cowboys and cowgirls from all over the world showed up to the Lewiston Roundup but some didn’t have to travel too far.

Lewiston’s Rachelle Riggers competed in the barrel race event. The Columbia River circuit finalist received a loud cheer from her hometown as she rounded the barrels in 17.58 seconds.

Riggers had a good run, her fastest race Saturday night. It’s her fourth year barrel racing, and she keeps improving.

“Each year we just keep getting better and better,” she said. “I’m just really proud of my horse.”

This year has been a tough one for Riggers. She had knee surgery in March and her horse was having stomach issues, which kept her from racing for three months.

While she wasn’t able to compete as much as she wanted to, Riggers expects next year to be a great season.

A cowgirl from across the river in Asotin, Shawnee Watenpaugh, also rounded the barrels at the event in 18.43 seconds.

Watenpaugh said barrel racing is her dream job.

“I couldn’t see myself doing anything else,” she said. “It felt great being out there hearing the crowd and everyone cheering.”

It’s her third year competing and while this wasn’t her fastest race, Watenpaugh is proud of the job she and her horse did.

“We’re always trying our best,” she said.

Kelly Longfellow, of Moscow, was another local in the event, finishing in 17.91 seconds.

But it was Whitley Sharp, of Caldwell, who won the event in 17.28 seconds. Sharp finished in the top seven for the week and earned a loud cheer from the crowd as she rounded the last barrel.

“Wow, wow, wow,” said announcer Will Rasmussen.

Horses were the star of other rodeo events.

Kashton Ford, a cowboy from Sturgis, S.D., started off the bareback riding with a score of 85 on Sozo. The 18-year-old held on and tied for the highest score of the week. His first ride in the bareback was a tough score to beat for the other competitors.

Ford said it feels great to win. The horse he originally got paired with was hurt in the back earlier Saturday, so he got to ride Sozo instead. He said it was a good horse that made for a great ride.

Ford said it’s been a rough season, but it hasn’t affected his positive attitude or love for the sport.

“I just have to remember I need to have fun,” Ford said. “And the rest will work its way out.”

Jess Pope, of Waverly, Kan., came close with a score of 84.5 on a brown horse called Lewandowski’s Stiletto. Pope said Saturday’s ride was the push he needed, being ranked 16th in the world.

“It was a close one, it feels really good to get second,” he said. “At this point in time I need to win every good check I can.”

He said the season has been a slow one but this past month it’s started to pick up.

While it was his first time riding Lewandowski’s Stiletto, Pope has been paired up with the horse’s mother before. He said she’s just as strong as her mother.

Saddle bronc gave the crowd some excitement as the oldest competition in the rodeo.

Julie Peterson traveled all the way from Spartanburg, S.C., to watch the rodeo. She came to visit her daughter, Sarah Peterson, of Moscow, who’s come to the event for six years in a row.

“We’re originally from California,” Julie said. “So we know a thing or two about rodeos.”

Their favorite part is saddle bronc riding because they love bucking horses. Sarah said she also enjoys the amount of people the rodeo attracts.

“You get the typical rodeo folks,” Sarah said. “But also, the universities bring out a good amount of people…. It’s a good crowd for a small-town rodeo.”

Cash Wilson, of Wall, S.D., took the top spot and the Pendleton blanket for the saddle bronc event with the week’s high score of 87.5. Wilson earned a loud cheer and stomping feet from the crowd when the score was announced.

Wilson was riding PT Barnum, a horse that offered high fast bucks in the air that didn’t stop even after he left the saddle.

Wilson said it always feels great to win and PT Barnum is having a great year.

“That horse is on a winning streak,” Wilson said. “Everyone here was wanting that one and I was so lucky to draw him.”

It’s been a good season for Wilson. He tore his ACL last year and had a rough winter recovering, but is back riding again.

“I’m happy to be back,” he said. “Just keep getting better after every ride.”

Weston Patteron, of Waverly, Kan., tied for the week on Outlaw Tunes with an 84.5 score.

Four-time world champion and number 4 in the world Zeke Thurston, of Big Valley, Alberta, didn’t have the show he wanted, but neither did his horse. Money Shot had a rough start and when the chute was open the horse wouldn’t come out.

The “Jeopardy” theme song played as the cowboys got the horse ready for another go and this time the horse was ready. Money Shot came out bucking and at 7.34 seconds Thurston fell off the side and sat in the dirt for a brief moment.

“Ladies and gentlemen, that doesn’t happen,” said Rasmussen.

While some people came for the horses, others came for the bulls. Rebecca Fox and Geoff Cochran of Lewiston were debating on going to the rodeo’s last day, and said Saturday morning’s Lewiston Roundup parade sealed the deal.

“It’s always a really good parade,” Fox said.

They’ve attended three of the four sessions and said the bulls kept them coming back for more.

“The bulls were incredible,” Cochran said. “Very exciting to watch.”

Only one cowboy stayed on his bull Saturday night, Hayes Weight, of Goshen, Utah, rode Kiss Me to a score of 88.5. The longer Weight stayed on the white bull the louder the crowd roared.

With the last bull out of the chute, the thousands that were gathered watched fireworks as they left the roundup grounds, waiting to come back for the 90 year tradition next year.

RESULTS

BAREBACK

Kashton Ford, Sturgis, S.D.: 85, $4,141.28

Jesse Pope, Waverly, Kan.: 84.5, $2,656.67

Dean Thompson, Altamont, Utah: 83, $833.46

Cole Reiner, Buffalo, Wyo.: 82.5, $156.27

Mason Clements, Spanish Fork, Utah: 82.5, $156.27

Kade Sonnier, Carencro, La.: 80.5

Jacek Frost, Browns Valley, Calif.: 73

SADDLE BRONC

Cash Wilson, Wall, S.D.: 87.5, $4,286.40

Weston Patterson, Waverly, Kan.: 84.5, $2,857.60

Brody Wells, Powell, Wyo.: 84, 1,571.68

Ben Anderson, Eckville, Alberta: 82.5, $714.40

Q Taylor, Nanton, Alberta: 81, $500.08

Jake Clark, Crane, Ore.: 78.5

Talon Elshere, Hereford, S.D.: 76

Kade Bruno, Challis, Idaho: 75

Kole Ashbacher, Arrowwood, Alberta: 62

BULL RIDING

Hayes Weight, Goshen, Utah: 88.5; $5,527.20

BARREL RACING

Whitley Sharp, Caldwell, Idaho: 17.29, $967.49

AMATUER BARREL RACING

Lauren Rook: 17.58

Reece Barnard: 19.89

Trynity Prichard: 20.67

Laramie Richardson: 17.90

Madison Keys: 18.90

Audrey Tucker: 19.17

TIE DOWN ROPING

Marcos Costa, Iretama, Brazil: 7.3 seconds, $4,314.60

Bryce Derrer, Portales, N.M.: 7.5 seconds, $3,807

BREAKAWAY ROPING

Joey Williams, Volberg, Mont.: 2.7 seconds, $979.95

Jacey Fortier, Billings, Mont.: 3.2 seconds, $261.32

Brewster may be contacted at kbrewster@lmtribune.com or at (208) 848-2297. Pearce can be reached at epearce@dnews.com.