Minerva Chamber Rodeo didn't let rain get in the way of family fun on Saturday

Benjamin Duer, The Repository
·2 min read
Everly Burke, 5, of Carrollton heads for the finish line to win her heat in the kids Stick Horse race at the Minerva Chamber Rodeo.
Everly Burke, 5, of Carrollton heads for the finish line to win her heat in the kids Stick Horse race at the Minerva Chamber Rodeo.

MINERVA − A rainy night didn't dampen the family fun in Municipal Park on Saturday.

The sixth annual Minerva Chamber Rodeo brought cheers and smiles, with children's and adult competitions, and family-friendly activities. For children, there were stick horse races and a mutton bustin' contest before the rodeo.

Denise Freeland, executive director of the Minerva Area Chamber of Commerce, said the event keeps growing every year, drawing people from multiple counties. "One year," Freeland said, she met a woman who traveled three hours to take in the sights.

Kimberly Scott and her family attended their first rodeo Saturday.

"It's something different to do," she said. "We don't have much stuff around here to do. They always have stuff like this in Minerva. We live in Carrollton."

Journee Rhodes, 6, left, of Malvern and Elouise Zwick, 5, of Minerva, compete in the kids Stick Horse race at the Minerva Chamber Rodeo.
Journee Rhodes, 6, left, of Malvern and Elouise Zwick, 5, of Minerva, compete in the kids Stick Horse race at the Minerva Chamber Rodeo.

Cori Rhodes of Malvern, with daughters Journee, 6, and Emeri, 5, said they've been coming to the Minerva rodeo for the last several years. Her daughters participated in the stick horse race. "It's so family-oriented. They're so good about keeping the kids entertained," Rhodes said.

The dusty dash saw children run straight, left, right and in between, with an occasional fall. It brought smiles, cheers and applause.

The mutton bustin' contest had children see how long they could stay on the back of a sheep, similar to bull riding or bronco busting. Austin Zwick of Minerva watched his twin 5-year-olds Elouise and Audrey and 4-year-old Forrest take on the sheep. "This is a blast," he said. "We'll come back every year."

Elouise Zwick, 5, of Minerva, compete in the kids Mutton Busting event at the Minerva Chamber Rodeo.
Elouise Zwick, 5, of Minerva, compete in the kids Mutton Busting event at the Minerva Chamber Rodeo.

The rodeo was presented by Buckeye Rodeo Company and sanctioned by International Professional Rodeo Association and American Professional Rodeo Association. The event also included live music, crafts, food and commercial vendors and barrel races.

Dave Catlett, a chamber member, said they were looking for "some fresh ideas" to replace a dying circus, and his mother, Patti, mentioned a rodeo. "My mom said the rodeo thing seems to be on the rise, and that sparked it," he said.

Cole Gotshall, 6, of Minerva gets tossed in the Mutton Busting event at the Minerva Chamber Rodeo,.
Cole Gotshall, 6, of Minerva gets tossed in the Mutton Busting event at the Minerva Chamber Rodeo,.

Prior to the rodeo, the stick horse race and a mutton bustin' contest gave children the opportunity to be part of the fun. The first event involving the stick horses, or hobby horses, had children sprinting to and around a barrel in the middle of the arena, riding a stick horse.

Freeland agreed on the event's origins.

"That's how it started. Dave's mom wanted a rodeo," Freeland said with a laugh.

Catlett added: "Everyone does the same old, same old. We were looking to do something a little different."

Reach Benjamin Duer at 330-580-8567 or ben.duer@cantonrep.com. On Twitter: @bduerREP

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Minerva Chamber Rodeo had races, kid contests and plenty of other fun