By MAGGIE MCMURRAY
Moapa Valley Progress
If you are looking for an event with all the excitement of the rodeo except shrunk down a bit in size, then you’ll definitely want to check out mutton bustin’ at the Clark County Fair.
The term “mutton bustin’” comes from the fact that the junior cowboys and cowgirls ride sheep instead of bulls or broncs. Don’t be fooled, however, mutton bustin’ has most of the thrills, chills, and spills of it’s full size counterpart. Mary’s proverbial little lamb is nowhere to be seen and these wild and wooly mounts can be pretty scary for their pint-sized riders.
“This event is about as much fun as you can have with a rough stock event,” said event coordinator Stuart Riggins. “It is as scary for some of these little kids to get on these big wild sheep as it is for a man to climb on a bull.”
That said, mutton bustin’ is a very popular event and a favorite for kids every year. Youngsters struggle to stay on their wild mounts for six seconds while being judged on skill and style.
The event has a huge draw. In the past there have been people come from as far away as Idaho and Oregon just to participate in this event at this fair, Riggins said.
The event is just for kids ages 4-7 that are under 60 pounds. Riggins said weight limits and age limits are strictly enforced and checked when the kids arrive for their rides. This keeps things fair, and it protects the sheep.
Protective gear is provided for kids including helmets and protective vests. Chaps are also available for those who choose to wear them. Other aspects of the event are run just like a miniature rodeo with barrels and clowns and miniature bucking chutes sized specifically for sheep.
The contest has 120 spots available this year. But they are filling up fast. Registration is already open and when the spots are full, everyone else will be turned away.
Every day of the fair is a new day in the mutton bustin’ arena, meaning an aggregate winner is crowned at the end of each day with no points carried over. The event is contested all 5 days of the fair, with one winner each day walking away with champion bragging rights and a $150 belt buckle sponsored by Lin’s Marketplace.
Even if your kid isn’t the big winner, every kid walks away with prize money. There is a $15 fee to enter the event, but every kid is guaranteed at least $5 in winnings, as well as a cool Clark County Fair Mutton Bustin’ T-shirt. One hundred percent of the money goes back to the kids, with the youngsters getting a bigger payout the higher they place.
Although the event will be contested every day, not every day will be the same. Every round has 15 competitors and out of those 15, five finalists will be chosen. Wednesday has one event beginning at 5pm. Thursday has one event at 3pm, with the championship round at 6pm. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday have two rounds each at 1pm and 3pm, with the top 5 from each round returning that evening for their respective championship round. Those finals will be held at 6pm on Friday and Saturday, and 5pm on Sunday.
Just like rodeo, winning in mutton bustin’ is a combination of luck, ability, and determination.
“This event is really just a lot of fun,” Riggin said. “It’s popular for a reason. We’re grateful for our volunteers who help everything run smoothly and help make it a positive experience for everyone. We’re also thankful to our sponsors who really make this a high caliber event. We love it that kids want to participate and look forward to this year.”
Riggins would like to thank Lins Marketplace, Southern Nevada Water Authority, and Stotz Equipment for being this year’s big sponsors.
If you feel your child would be interested in participating, register them as soon as possible to make sure there are spots available. To register, go to ccfair.com and click on the rodeo tab at the top. Under rodeo, click on mutton bustin’. The application and schedule are highlighted in blue. There is also an address to submit mail-in entries to.
