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ASHLAND — Boots were dusty and yeehaws filled the air at the Ashland County Fair as things took a Western turn.
Wednesday was Ladies Day at the fairgrounds. It also brought a human tractor pull, mutton bustin’ and a rodeo to close out the night.
The fair’s mutton bustin’ started at 6 p.m. with 30 young riders weighing up to 50 pounds. Each rider received a helmet before taking a turn in the Grandstand.
Most rides lasted only a few seconds.
Some children tumbled onto the dirt almost as soon as the sheep took off. Others held on a little longer before hitting the ground to cheers from the crowd.
There was no champion at the end of the event. Each rider received applause before the next child climbed aboard.
The mutton bustin’ lasted about 30 to 40 minutes before the Grandstand prepared for the main event of the evening: the Diamond J Rodeo.
The rodeo started at 7 p.m. and brought cowboys and cowgirls to the Ashland County Fairgrounds for a night of fast runs and timed events.
Several 4-H members participated in the rodeo and have been riding since they were little.
Phoebe Spidel watched from the grandstand. Her daughter was a horse trainer for Ashland County 4-H competitors. Spidel said her daughter, Sarah, has ridden horses since she was young and continues to ride today.
“I know most of the kids competing, they’ve all been riding for years,” Spidel said. “I’ve been a 4-H advisor for 38 years and grew up with horses my whole life.”
The rodeo included saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, breakaway roping, barrel racing and team roping.
In breakaway roping, riders raced to rope a calf around the neck. The rope then released from the saddle horn. A catch that did not meet the requirements resulted in a disqualified run.
Other events came down to the clock.
Barrel racers guided their horses around three barrels in a tight pattern. Ropers worked to get their calves secured as quickly as possible. Team ropers worked together to complete their runs.
The competition moved quickly. A successful run could last only a matter of seconds.
The crowd had plenty to watch between events, too.
Rodeo entertainer Trey Casey kept spectators involved with jokes, music and crowd competitions. At the end of the night, he picked out the biggest fan in the crowd to spotlight.
The rodeo also opened with a ceremony recognizing members of the military and veterans in the crowd as rodeo competitors waved the American flag.
While the Grandstand filled with rodeo fans, another competition was taking place on the fairgrounds.
The human antique tractor pull took place at the Draft Pony Barn Wednesday afternoon. Teams competed in age divisions and they worked together to pull a tractor down the course.
The competition included an 11-to 15-year-old division, an adult division and a women’s division.
Ironically, the team ‘The Winners,’ pulled off the tractor pull win.
The fair continues through Saturday at the Ashland County Fairgrounds.
See more from theAshland County Fair Wednesday:
