Yeehaw!  Curlew Valley Amateur Rodeo fans couldn’t have asked for a better show after fancying last week’s annual rodeo held July 24 and 25 in Stone, Idaho.  The small rodeo grounds were packed across the stands, fence to fence, and bumper to bumper for two days of rousing rodeo events, so good that one cowboy said, “If you weren’t thrilled by it, something’s wrong with you!”

The rodeo unofficially kicked off at 6 o’clock Thursday evening for the roping slack, featuring 5 tie down ropers, 23 breakaway ropers, and 16 team ropers.  The nights’ events paused until 8 o’clock when Glen Gilles, rodeo announcer for the Stone Rodeo, welcomed everyone for the 73rd annual rodeo.  

After introducing the rodeo committee, including Rick Steed, Tim Munns, Rondell Skidmore, Ken Eliason, Cody Carter, Denver Hawkes, Brayden Eliason, Shane Eliason, Matt Branch, and Nathan Eliason, he took a few moments to begin the night with prayer before opening the night with the National Anthem sung by McCall Clark on Thursday night and Brent Stokes on Friday.  McKinzie Richins, Easton Wrigley, and Hailey Branch were the flag bearers for the two night rodeo.

Friday night saw a special tribute to the late Lyle Steed, a former rodeo committee member and past chairman.  Brother Rick Steed entered the arena with Lyle’s horse and empty saddle, making a final lap as a heartfelt salute, written by Lyle’s family, was read in thanks.

With honors and introductions out of the way, the rodeo was well under way, beginning the night a little rough stock riding. Saddle bronc riding was the hot event of the rodeo with 4 contestants riding each night. Only one contestant put in for the bareback riding while 7 riding saddled up their broncs with their own ranch saddle.  

Clayton Lunt, the only bareback rider, managed an 8 second ride to score 64 points and claim the win.  Bryett Larsen, riding saddle bronc on Friday night, won the two night event with a 79 point ride.  Just a week before, Larsen took second place in the impressive National High School Rodeo in Rock Springs, Wyoming in the same event.  Branson Burnhope came out of the chute with a big ranch bronc ride, wowing the judges with a good ride and a side of style.

The top breakaway ropers competed Thursday night, setting up a time that couldn’t be beaten throughout the remainder of the rodeo.  Delaney Kunau came out of the box for a lightning fast 2.22 sec time to win the event, followed by Malad favorite Bella Smith in second place with 2.68 sec time.

The tie down roping saw a number of local cowboys not only competing but settling into the top few spots.  Kerby Platt took first place with a time of 9.22 seconds, followed by Holbrook’s own Ruger Smith.  Ruger’s spry youth gave him the edge to place just ahead of his dad with a 9.26 run, pushing Lex Smith to third place with a 9.87. 

Across the two nights of rodeo, contestants competed in 3 sections of ribbon roping, a winner awarded in each section.  The fans couldn’t help but chuckle as they watched teams scramble in the chaos getting clotheslined, rope 2 heifers in a single head loop, and the runner of one team steal the ribbon off another team’s calf.  MaCoy Ream and Brecken Smith were the fastest team of Thursday night, with Easton Sumner and Cody Sumner, and Daxton Buttars & Torrey Benoit winning Friday.

The team roping paid out the top 6 places of the total 35 entries, the winning pot going to Travis and Tyler Whitlow with 5.63 sec run.  The barrel racing showed a similar accomplishment with the top 4 places of 29 entries paid out.  Kenedie Balster won the event with her Thursday night run of 16.572 sec.  The top 4 places had a narrow spread with fourth place coming in just 0.2 seconds behind the leader.

Each night of the show had full entries in the highly entertaining Wild Horse Race.  The three man teams tried more than a handful of ways to sneak a rider on their horse and take it for a lap around the arena.  Some were a little more clever to make their way up the rope and slide on the bronc’s back while some were a little more daring and foolish to attempt a running mount from the back.  Despite two hind feet to the gut, the rider bounced back on his feet to try again.

Winning the Wild Horse Race Thursday was Bo Bassett, Tyge Boxey, and Daxtyn Woodmancy.  The Friday night win was claimed by Josh Brown, Raymond Garcia, and Shadon Hamilton.

The bulls won out in the bull riding event, ending the rodeo with zero qualified rides in the event despite the 8 entries.  The unclaimed 2025 winnings will be set aside for another year, sweeting next year’s pot with a little extra.

Of course it wouldn’t be the Stone Rodeo without a little calf riding somewhere in the middle for all the young cowboys and cowgirls eager to have their moment to shine in the arena.  With a $2 bill their prize for the ride, the youngins were more than willing to hop on the back of the little dairy calf herd donated for use by Nolan Branch.

With the night over, the final word of the night was one last thank you to the sponsors that play a part in making the annual rodeo a reality.  The 2025 sponsors include: Rose of Snowville, Ron Keller Tire, Black Pine Motel, S - S Ranch, AE Eliason Performance Horses, Frank May Ski-Doo, Hess Auto Parts, C & R Auto, Rupp’s Trucking and Excavation, Poulsen Farms, Udy Angus Plus - Steve Udy, Thirstycow.com - Jed Heaton, Max & Sheena Hansen, Stotz Equipment, Golden Spike Power Sports, Butte Irrigation, Exit 7 Truck Parking, TJA Ranch, Car Quest, Bott & Sons, and R & B Fencing - Rhett Munns.

Those leading the event wish to give an additional thanks to the judges (Tim Edwards and Riker Carter), rodeo secretary (Diane Skidmore), timers (Bo Smith and Kristin Tanner), pick up men (Ron Eliason and Tracen Jones), bull fighters (Brody and Kaleb Hamblin), and sound techs (Dennis and Ryan Poulsen) as well as the very talented stock contractor Hoggan Rodeo Company for their four legged athletes as well.

This year’s rodeo may still be a fresh memory, but cowboys and cowgirls, fans and friends are already looking forward to what next will bring.

Bareback Riding

1st Place- Clayton Lunt, 64 pts

Saddle Bronc Riding

1st Place- Bryett Larsen, 79 pts

2nd Place- Warren Bauer, 63 pts

Breakaway Roping

1st Place- Delaney Kunau, 2.22 sec

2nd Place- Bella Smith, 2.68 sec

3rd Place- Havin Jones, 2.89 sec

4th Place- Brecken Smith, 2.93 sec

5th Place- Jaylee Erickson, 3.8 sec

Ranch Bronc Riding

1st Place- Branson Burnhope, 78 pts

2nd Place- Seth Fields,77 pts

3rd Place- Colby Bowles, 76 pts 

4th Place- Daxton Woodmancy,
70 pts

Tie Down Roping

1st Place- Kerby Platt, 9.22 sec

2nd Place- Ruger Smith, 9.26 sec

3rd Place- Lex Smith, 9.87sec

Team Roping

1st Place- Travis Whitlow & Tyler Whitlow, 5.63 sec

2nd Place- Jade Stoddard & Chance Moldenhower, 5.68 sec 

3rd/4th Place- Ashton Parker & Cole Gunner, 5.98 sec

3rd/4th Place- Colter Buttars & Daxton Buttar, 5.98 sec

5th Place- Tyler Bell & Ben Tibbits, 6.51 sec

6th Place- JT Tibbits & Garrett Thurston, 7.62 sec

Barrel Racing

1st Place- Kenedie Balster, 16.572 sec

2nd Place- Brecken Smith, 16.654 sec

3rd Place- Jennica Offret, 16.741 sec

4th Place- Mindy Clark, 16.783 sec

Ribbon Roping

Thursday Winners- MaCoy Ream & Brecken Smith

Friday Winners- Easton Sumner & Cody Sumner

Daxton Buttars & Torrey Benoit

Wild Horse Race

Thursday Winners- Bo Bassett, Tyge Boxey, & Daxtyn Woodmancy

Friday Winners- Josh Brown,
Raymond Garcia, & Shadon Hamilton