Rodeo-goers enjoyed two mostly weather-cooperative days at the Twin Lakes Rodeo Grounds this past Saturday and Sunday. Crowds lining the ring from the hillside viewing area and across the arena from the parking lot were treated a full docket of events with only a brief few drops of rain as things wound down on Saturday. Sunday was a Chamber of Commerce day with clear blue skies and another full schedule.
Besides the usual saddle bronc, bull riding and barrel racing events, steer riding and team roping were added this year and were popular with the several hundred spectators encircling the arena.
Results
• Bulls: Cooper Ives was the sole survivor scoring 70 points for his full ride, the bulls throwing the other seven would-be riders. On Sunday, the bulls shut out the cowboys, 4-0.
• Ranch saddle bronc: Top point-getters were John Mendez on Saturday with 74.5 and Carson Angell with a score of 75 on Sunday.
• Steer riding: Louis Brotherton swept the weekend as the only cowboy to go the distance both days, scoring rides of 80 on Saturday and 74 on Sunday.
• Team roping: On Saturday the rodeo reintroduced spectators to the team roping event, local enthusiast JR Barnhart being credited with the return of the event to the rodeo. Five teams competed, three posted successful runs, led by the Brewster team of Cass Gebbers and Bronson Blood with a 6.25 second run. JR and Jimmy Branhart took second at 8.57 seconds. Sunday’s breakaway roping event was won by Rio Schmidt with a 3.00 second time, Bette Wehmeyer placed second in 3.53.
• Barrel racing: Kady Burton posted the fastest time on Saturday, winning with a 19.8 second tour of the course. Remington Odenius was a mere five one-hundreths behind at 19.85 and Amanda Knowles at 19.91. Sunday’s event saw another close race, Jacee Wilson with the top mark at 18.6 seconds, Cheyenne Hammer was second (19.08) and Reece Holmes third with a 19.22 run.
The Methow Valley Rodeo Association hosts two rodeos at the Twin Lakes Rodeo Grounds annually on Saturday and Sunday of Memorial and Labor Day weekends, and is on track for the same in 2027. “Unless there is some catastrophe,” said Rodeo Chair Dennis Gardner, “we will be there (for Memorial Weekend, 2027).”
