Tough enough to wear pink

Every night for 90 years, the Lewiston Roundup has begun at 6:59 p.m.

And every year since 2006 “Tough Enough to Wear Pink” raises money for the Gina Quesenberry Foundation.

There were about 4,642 people who were scanned in for tickets at the Lewiston Roundup on Friday night at the roundup grounds with 2,205 in pink shirts.

The fundraiser donates a dollar for each person who wears the color pink to the Gina Quesenberry Foundation, a local organization that supports families who have experienced breast cancer.

The Chicks and Chaps fundraiser also earned about $86,000 that will go to the Foundation and the Northwest Cancer Foundation of Hope, according to Willie Deibel, Roundup director.

Josh Johnston brought his son Jaymus Johnston to his first rodeo. The Clarkston natives said they’re most excited for bull riding.

Josh dyed his beard pink to participate in the rodeo’s “Tough Enough to Wear Pink.”

Even some of the horse were tough enough to wear pink as those carrying flags or participating in barrel racing wore pink sparkles or pink bands on the legs.

Cindy Ruzicka from Grangeville brought a three-week-old kitten to the rodeo. Her daughter found him in Riggins while driving to town Sunday night.

Ruzicka said the cat needs constant care and can’t be left alone, so she brought him to enjoy some bull riding with her.

Cynthia Smith of Belgrade, Mont., and Ashley Britt of Carson City, Nev., said this is their sixth year coming to the rodeo.

They study at Lewis-Clark State College, and said they like coming for the atmosphere and to watch “amazing athletes.” Britt said her favorite part is dancing to music because it’s always great.

Regardless of whether people were wearing pink, the entire crowd roared to life for the action and the rodeo delivered on that front as well.

Bareback riding offered some bucking rides with a few cowboys getting bucked off. Others were able to hold on for eight seconds.

One of the cowboys who stayed on was Tim Murphy, of Cleveland, Texas, riding Champayne Toast. He won the Big Sky Rodeo in Montana, but in Lewiston he earned a score of 74.0.

That wasn’t enough against Hayden James, of Emmett, Idaho, who earned a loud roar from the crowd for being an Idaho cowboy as well as his 81-point ride.

James leaned back on his horse Lewandowski’s Shoutin’ Shoes, losing his black hat but still hanging on for eight seconds.

James felt confident about the ride. He couldn’t believe he got Lewandowski’s Shoutin’ Shoes, a horse he had seen videos of and was hoping to be paired up with.

“It’s the kind of horse you dream about getting,” James said. “She’s awesome.”

This is James’ first time coming to the Lewiston Roundup. He said it’s one rodeo of many that’s made a fun season.

“There’s been ups and downs,” he said. “But that’s just rodeo.”

Both Murphy and James were outmatched by Bodee Lammers on Irish Eyes. The Tolar, Texas, cowboy lost his hat but not his cool. Lammers hung on for eight seconds and then was bucked off by the fighting Irish Eyes earning 83 points for the win.

Lammers said this is his second time competing at the Lewiston Roundup. It’s been a few years since he’s come and said it’s good to be back.

“The cool thing is I was born in Lewiston,” Lammers said. “So coming back, it’s kind of like a hometown rodeo.”

Lammers said his ride, Irish Eyes, was very strong. He felt like he could have done a better job riding, but he said it all worked out because the horse was a good one.

The saddle bronc event got the crowd excited with Parker Fleet, of Axtell, Texas, winning the event and the Pendleton blanket with an 82 ride. Fleet rode Seven of Spades for eight seconds for the win, even with a penalty flag.

Fleet said it felt pretty good to win competing for the first time at the Lewiston Roundup.

“I wish it happened more often,” he said. “Just got to keep going and win them when you can.”

He said Seven of Spades was a good horse. The ride began rockily, but Fleet said he was able to turn things around.

“It was a good ride,” he said. “The horse did everything I wanted it to, which is all I could have asked for.”

Not everyone had a good night in the saddle bronc. Mitch Pollock, of Winnemucca, Nev., was bucked off THE Black Tie at the last second. Pollock hit the dirt at 7.01 seconds and kneeled in the dirt face down as THE Black Tie rode off.

“I feel sick for that man from Nevada,” said announcer Will Rasmussen said. “He wanted that horse and he wanted him bad.”

Maybe THE Black Tie had an extra reason to show off and buck hard. The world champion horse was injured in 2021 and received surgery to return to the arena.

The bulls put up a tough fight with only one cowboy earning a score. The cowboy from Waxahachie, Texas, Maverick Potter received a 78 on Silver Tongued Devil.

Potter said winning is worth the soreness afterward. The ride left him with a few separated ribs; he said the ground is always harder than it looks.

He said it feels good to win some money. The season has been a “hit and miss type deal” for Potter. He’s been dealing with a lot more injuries compared to past seasons, but he said nothing is stopping him from going home.

“I’m going to keep going and try real hard,” Potter said. “I won’t tuck my tail and go home. It always turns around sooner or later.”

Potter has been competing at the Lewiston Roundup for several years. He keeps coming back for the good bulls and great rodeo committee.

The fact that the other cowboys were bucked off didn’t mean the crowd wasn’t enthralled in the action.

Brady Portenier, of Caldwell, got a strong reaction for a less than ideal performance on Mr. Nightlinger. As the bull kicked and spun the bull and cowboy fell down in the dirt, receiving a gasp from the crowd. Even though the angry bull was looking for more action from the bullfighters in the arena, he didn’t receive any and was ushered out.

Ranked 24 in the world, Roscoe Jarboe, of New Plymouth, Idaho, took a chance on Big Show, an unridden bull.

“Can Roscoe Jarboe ride the unridable?” asked Rasmussen.

The answer was no, as Jarboe was thrown off Big Show’s back.

Sterling Rogers, of Emmett, Idaho, got close to eight seconds on Sharp Dressed Man but was thrown off at 7.58 seconds.

“That’ll break your heart,” Rasmussen said.

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