By Shyla Marshall
Moapa Valley Progress
The Moapa Valley High School Rodeo took place February 22-23 at the Clark County Fairgrounds. Members of the Nevada State High School Rodeo Association from across the state traveled to Logandale to compete. The action kicked off at 7:00 a.m. Friday when two cuttings were held at Liz and Wes Adam’s arena in Logandale. Not only was it the Moapa Valley cutting, but the event also hosted the Boulder City cutting as well. After they were finished there, the excitement moved to the Clark County Fairgrounds. The rodeo started at noon on Friday and 8:00 a.m. on Saturday.
Beginning with the tradition of grand entry, on Friday Kerrie Gurule presented the American flag. Alyssa O’Toole carried the Nevada flag, followed by Amy Jo Allen who brought in the National High School Rodeo Association flag. Britney Hughes then made her way in, being introduced as Miss Teen Rodeo Nevada 2007 and the Moapa Valley High School Rodeo Queen. Several members of the Moapa Valley High School Rodeo Club competed at this rodeo last weekend. In the barrel racing, Amy Jo Allen had a bit of tough luck on Friday, receiving a no time. However she came back strong and ran an 18.51 on Saturday. Kayla Leachman competed in barrel racing and pole bending. On Friday she ran a 20.38 in barrels and a 25.17 in poles. Saturday she finished with a 20.52 in barrels and a 25.26 in poles. Britney Hughes had a time of 18.59 in barrels and placed 10th on Friday. In poles she ran a 23.73. Saturday she came in with an 18.37 in barrels placing 6th and a 22.78 in poles placing 7th. Alyssa O’Toole also competed in barrel racing and pole bending. She had an 18.70 in barrels on Friday and a 33.54 in poles. On Saturday she ran an 18.88 in barrels and a 33.52 in poles.Oakley Baker-Reymore, another local talent, member of the Las Vegas High School Rodeo Club also competed. His events included calf roping and team roping. Baker-Reymore finished 4th in calf roping on Friday with a time of 17.71. In team roping he and his partner Victor Ugalde, came in 5th with a time of 25.77. On Saturday he had a 17.80 in calf roping, placing 6th and a no time in team roping.
There were numerous volunteers from the community who stepped in to help out. “After not having a rodeo here since 2004, it was great to see so much support from our community,” Anita Shanahan, club assistant, pointed out. “There were a lot of people who gave up a day of work so they could be there to support the kids and lend a hand.”
It was not only the contestants who competed in their events who were there to help. Many of the other members of the club, who may not have competed at this particular rodeo, were still there. Brianna Davis, Brock Allen, Kerri Gurule, Cynthia Taylor and Chandler Whipple worked hard and kept busy with various tasks. They did everything from checking in the contestants to working in the cook shack, setting barrels and poles to holding the goat tying goats, and helping in the office or writing times to selling raffle tickets. Each of the kids were eager to make a difference and help make this program succeed.
You can expect the Moapa Valley High School Rodeo to take place next year at about the same time. The Las Vegas High School Rodeo is set for March 1-2. It will be held at Horseman’s Park in Las Vegas. You can find out more about the rodeos or keep track of how the contestants are doing on the Nevada State High School Rodeo Association’s web site, www.nshsra.org
