The Dopps Rodeo showcased the riding talents of top-ranked cowboys as they competed in the opening round of saddle bronc riding both evenings.
Top-ranked competitors from across the western United States walked away with more than $34,000 in cash prizes during the 12th Annual Daniel Dopps Memorial Rodeo.
Held at Optimist Park on Friday and Saturday, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association event included two days of saddle bronc riding, bull riding, bareback riding, steer wrestling, calf roping and team roping.
The rodeo is named in honor of Daniel Dopps, a champion bull rider from Mountain Home that died in a rodeo in southeastern Idaho in 2005. Memorial rodeo representatives emphasized that they remain proud to host this event in Mountain Home as a way to carry on his legacy.
Members of the Treasure Valley Leather Slappers equestrian team present the Stars and Stripes in a synchronized show set to music to mark the official start of this year's rodeo.
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To qualify for a share of the cash prizes at this year’s rodeo, cowboys had to hang on until the horn went off while the broncs did everything they could to throw the riders. Once the ride ended, competitors needed a hand to dismount from their raging horse or bull versus the possibility of being unceremoniously flung out of the saddle.
Just fractions of a second separated the top-ranked competitors during this year’s steer wrestling competition.
Before the main rodeo events began both nights, younger rodeo enthusiasts had a chance to win prizes during the calf scramble.
Youngsters are joined by rodeo clown John Beck as they complete the dash back to Optimist Park as they finish Second Annual Run With the Bulls fun run on Saturday. Held in conjunction with this year's Daniel Dopps Memorial Rodeo, children were invited to tackle a one-mile course with a five-kilometer option available for older participants.
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