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ASHLAND — The sheep didn’t stand a chance.
Children took center stage Wednesday evening in the Ashland County Fair’s first-ever Mutton Bustin contest.
The grandstand filled as the sun beamed down on 16 eager children, each ready to prove themselves in the crowd-pleasing event, where kids see how long they can hold onto sheep before falling off.
Excitement buzzed through the air as families and fairgoers sat in their seats, waiting to see who could hang on to the sheep the longest.
Among the riders stood 4-year-old Ashland local, Henry Gamber, who stepped into the arena with all the confidence of a seasoned cowboy.
It was Henry’s first rodeo, but he showed just how tough he could be. The second the gate swung open, he clung tight and held on with every ounce of determination he had.
When he eventually tumbled off, he bounced right back up, brushed himself off and collected his medal as the crowd let out cheers.
Henry’s parents, Rebekkah and Matt Gamber, said a flyer caught their eye. They knew they had to give it a try.
“His older brother is into rodeos,” Matt said.
“And all things cowboys,” Rebekkah added.
When asked if he had fun and would try it again, Henry’s answer was a quick and confident “yes.”
Another rider, Gracie Stover, drew special praise from the Master of Ceremonies, who encouraged the crowd to show support for all the girls in attendance.
“We’ve got a cowgirl down here, so let’s hear a little extra noise from the ladies,” he said.
Stover clung to the sheep with every ounce of strength she had before finally falling to the ground.
“Gracie came ready to ride!” he said.
Mutton Bustin joins Ashland County Fair for 1st time
Fair Secretary Cathy Rice said a board member saw the event at another rodeo and reached out to bring it here. She said while many rodeos include it as part of their contracts, Ashland’s full rodeo had not offered it before.
Sixteen kids signed up after the announcement on Facebook with a registration deadline.
To keep it safe, each rider wore a helmet and vest, and the Fair only allowed participants weighing 50 pounds or less.
Some children reached the gate and chose not to ride at the last moment, but they still received loud cheers from the stands and a medal to celebrate their courage.
Since sheep are close to the ground, kids didn’t have far to fall, Rice said.
She said the Fair is thrilled to add another fresh event that’s just as fun to watch as to participate.
(Photos from the Mutton Bustin event. Photo credit: Hannah Martin)
