Thousands turn out for Freedom Rodeo

BASIN CITY — Thousands of rodeo fans turned out Friday and Saturday, June 25 and 26, to watch the second Freedom Rodeo.

Temperatures neared 100 degrees at performance time Friday night and topped 105 at the start of Saturday’s rodeo.

To keep cool, several fans put on canopies on the rim of the arena, while at least one family brought a toddler wading pool and filled it with water.

The event got underway Friday morning with slack competition and a vendor area, compete with giant turkey legs, elephant ears and, of course, shaved ice.

In addition to regular events, the Freedom Rodeo had a large field of young competitors in mutton bustin’, calf riding, a calf scramble and a chicken scramble. Adults also took to the arena for two rounds of wild cow milking each night.

Competitors came from across the Pacific Northwest, as well as from as far away as Arizona, Oklahoma and Hawaii.

West Plains competitors registered to compete included Cheyanne Gleave of Cheney, Maddie Merriot of Reardan and Riley Petek of Medical Lake.

None placed in the money; their times or scores were not available.

In the two days of rodeo, not one cowboy completed a qualified bull ride, and only a couple managed broncs.

Jake Olson of Silverdale had the only qualified bareback ride, scoring 63 points and taking home the $1,500 purse.

In saddle bronc, up-and-coming cowboy Clay Buchert of Tonasket held on for the only qualified ride. He claimed $1,300 on his 67-point ride.

In tie-down roping, Nathan Clawson of Olympia led competitors with a 9.6 second run, good enough for $ 1,280.

Break-away roper Makenly Davis of Pendleton, Ore., made short work of her competition, out-pacing second place by nearly fourth-tenths of a second. Her run of 2.22 seconds was good for $1,450.

Ryan Bothum traveled from his hometown of Checotah, Okla., to Basin City to compete in steer wrestling, also called bulldogging. Diving from his horse and grabbing his steer by the horns, he wrestled it to the ground in 4.6 seconds, earning $1,000.

The fastest team ropers in the field this year were Jack Fischer of Ellensburg and Brent Falon of Yakima. The header and heeler combination lassoed their prey in 4.5 seconds to earn $1,173.

Omak’s Krista Marchand was the fastest competitor in barrels, completing the clover leaf pattern in 17.50 seconds to take home $1,653.

Marchand added another $250 in prize money by finishing sixth in break-away roping in a time of 3.40 seconds.

With $1,903, she took home more money than any other cowgirl ... or cowboy.

Friday night’s performance concluded with an arena dance and band.

RESULTS

Bareback Riding

Jake Olson of Silverdale, 63 points, $1,500

Tie-Down Roping

Nathan Clawson of Olympia, 9.6 seconds, $ 1,280

Justin Farber of Prosser, 10.8seconds, $960

Garret Sanford of Gig Harbor, 10.9 seconds, $640

Pacen Marez of Granger, 11.7 seconds, $320

Breakaway Roping

Makenly Davis of Pendleton, Ore., 2.22 seconds, $1,450

Andrea Miranda of Casa Grande, Ariz., 2.60 seconds, $1,200

Rachelle Herman of Port Angeles, 2.90 seconds, $950

Kassidy Bremner of Ellensburg, 2.97 seconds, $700

Sophie Dunn of Ellensburg, 3.34 seconds, $450

Krista Marchand of Omak, 3.40 seconds, $250

Saddle Bronc Riding

Clay Buchart of Tonasket, 67 points, $1,300

Steer Wrestling

Ryan Bothum of Checotah, Okla., 4.6 seconds, $1,000

Kaden Greenfield of Lakeview, Ore.,, 4.7 seconds, $750

Justin Kimsey of Kennewick, 4.8 seconds, $500

(tie) Trav Johnson of Eltopia and Cody McCleary of Walla Walla, 5.1 seconds, $125

Team Roping

Jack Fischer of Ellensburg and Brent Falon of Yakima, 4.5 seconds, $1,173

Clayton Hansen of Weiser, Idaho, and Phoenix Everano of Pendleton, Ore., 4.7 seconds $1,020

Clayton Hansen of Weister, Idaho, and Chase Hansen of Homedale, Idaho, 5.6 seconds $867

Jake Stanley of Hermiston, Ore., and Matt Funk of Hermiston, Ore., 6.1 seconds $714

Mason Chambers of Goldendale and Shane Crossley of Hermiston, Ore., 6.3 seconds $561

Jake Raley of Brush Prairie and Christopher Lopez of Alfalfa, Ore., 6.6 seconds $408

Jett Uldrikson of Wickenburg, Ariz., and Bryson Alder of Wickenburg, Ariz., 7.1 seconds $255

Troy Murray of Hermiston, Ore., and Matt Funk of Hermiston, Ore., 7.2 seconds $102

Barrel Racing

Krista Marchand of Omak, 17.50 seconds $1,653

Allison VanKoll of Brush Prairie, 17.77 seconds $1,368

Anne Meek of Wenatchee, 17.79 seconds $1,083

Corynn Kayser of Goldendale, 17.89 seconds $798

Cassie Bergevin of Ellensburg, 17.98 seconds $513

Caden Diefenbach of Omak, 18.00 seconds $285

Bull Riding – No qualified rides

Roger Harnack can be reached at roger@cheneyfreepress.com.