Cape's Wildest Rodeo comes to town

Mutton bustin' isn't a regular event at most rodeos, but the boys and girls who tried to ride sheep in the mud Friday night at Cape's Wildest Rodeo showed at least as much gumption as any old bullrider.

The children, all 8 and under, didn't spend long on the sheep's back. Some were finished in less than a second. But all got applause and a high-five from a rodeo clown.

Cape's Wildest Rodeo concludes today at Arena Park with competition beginning at 6 p.m.

Cortney Gunter, 8, and Cori Gunter, 6, came from Scott City, Mo., to ride sheep. "I'll probably fall off and get muddy," Cortney predicted. She did.

Three-year-old twins Garrett and Wyatt Johnson came from Perryville, Mo., in their matching cowboys hats to take on the sheep. They already ride horses and had been instructed by their mother, Sara, to "hold on and squeeze your legs real tight."

She also expected muddy landings. "We brought extra clothes," she said.

Because of heavy rains throughout the day, iron horses that move earth circled the ring before the real horses and cowboys could get started an hour and a half late.

The announcer promised not to charge the audience of more than 100 extra for the backhoe demonstration.

After the mutton bustin', Martha Huck presented the American flag and Jill McAllister, dressed as Lady Liberty, rode into the ring in the back of a pickup truck. The audience joined in singing "God Bless America."

The rodeo has 10 contestants in each of nine standard rodeo events, with others completing in "slack" after most of the crowd has gone home. Due to the number of entries, riders and rodeo organizers usually don't wrap up competition until the wee hours. The 240 competitors for this year's rodeo came from a radius of 250 miles.

Inside the A.C. Brase Arena Building, dancers from the area's Western and square dance clubs had their own party.

"We're putting this on as a fun family event," said Greg Strickland, whose Circle S Saddle Company is a co-sponsor with radio station 106.1 Coyote Country. This is the rodeo's second year. Net proceeds will go to the Shriners Children's Hospital in St. Louis.

sblackwell@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182