Stone, Idaho might be a little off the beaten path, but the Stone Rodeo is well known on the rodeo trail.  Fans from southern Idaho and northern Utah made their way to the Curlew Valley July 22 and 23 to attend the 70th annual showing of the Curlew Rodeo, better known as the Stone Rodeo.  The two day rodeo is a local favorite featuring classic rodeo rough stock and roping events as well as a little hometown fun like ribbon roping, calf riding, and wild horse race.

The rodeo is put on by the rodeo board made up of members throughout the Curlew Valley including president Rondell Skidmore, Rick Steed, Tim Munns, Ken Eliason, Bart Neal, Denver Hawkes, Brayden Eliason, Cody Carter, Matt Branch and Nathan Eliason.  Recently retiring from the board are Rod Arbon and Keith Oman.

Each night, the rodeo began with team roping and breakaway slack at 6 p.m., with the show starting at 8 p.m.  Jenny Hawkes, Hailey Branch and Easton Wrigley carried the American and Curlew Valley flags each night as Brent Scott and Madison Giordano sang the national anthem, Friday and Saturday respectively.  “Reggie” Carpenter with Hoggan Rodeo Company provided the rough stock, Eliason Livestock provided cattle for the ribbon roping, Troy Lowe provided the steers for the team roping, JD Johnson provided calves for the calf and breakaway roping, and Nolan Branch provided calves for the kids calf riding.

To celebrate the 70th year of the Stone Rodeo, winners of each event were awarded commemorative buckles.  Larry Stokes and Poulson Farms sponsored the bareback buckle, Munns Flying M Ranch sponsored the breakaway roping buckle, Bar 74 Ranch sponsored the stock saddle buckle, Jeff and Shanise Cornwall sponsored the tie down roping buckle, Max Hansen and Eliason Ranches sponsored the team roping buckle, Eliason Livestock sponsored the barrel racing buckle and Butte Irrigation sponsored the bull riding buckle.

Lookout Land & Livestock sponsored added money to the Wild Horse Race while Udy + sponsored added money to the ribbon roping.  Other sponsors of the rodeo included  Rose of Snowville, C & R Auto, TJA Ranch, the Black Pine Motel, Mollies Cafe, S-S Ranch, Wright Sings, Inc., AE Ranch, Frank May Ski-Doo, Sanderosa Hay, Flinders Reality & Exchange, Hess Auto Parts, Rupp’s Trucking and Excavation, Poulson Farms, and Arne Jones- Oneida County Sheriff.  Without all of these contributing sponsors, the Stone Rodeo wouldn’t be what it is.