Rodeo Rocks! Cowboys, Queens and Kids Strut Their Stuff in Ramona

They came from Lakeside, Ramona and Poway.  They came from Lost Creek and Salina, UT.  And they came from Texas, Pennsylvania, New Mexico and Nebraska. And that was just the cowboys and cowgirls.

Saturday night’s rodeo at a packed Fred Grand Arena was scene to a mix of little girls in pink cowboy hats, teenagers in short cutoffs, buff young men and grandparents in jeans and boots—all celebrating the rodeo culture unique to Ramona. Rodeo queens, drill teams and flag-bearing sponsors showed the hometown had game—all to the beat of booming rock music.

Performing or competing, entrants with world-class credentials in the 32nd annual Ramona Rodeo wowed the crowd with team roping, barrel racing, bareback riding, steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping and the ultimate finale—bull riding, with 17 cowboys from five states wearing horn-proof vests and helmets tough enough for the NHL.

And for comic relief—and booming explosions—came rodeo clown Jeff "Slim" Garner, who blew up a barbeque and threw confetti on the crowd—a la the Harlem Globetrotters. By 11 p.m., the after-party began with hundreds dancing to music at the adjoining stage.

Sunday’s final show begins at 2:30 p.m at the area, 421 Aqua Lane off Fifth Street.