Photojournalism: ‘Best in the West’ rope and ride at NW Rodeo Finals

A cowboy wrestles a steer to the ground during the steer wrestling event. Image by Mac Childers.

Competitors from all over the West descended on the Oregon State Fairgrounds Sept. 21 to showcase their talents at the Northwest Professional Rodeo Association's (NPRA) Rodeo of Champions. The NPRA runs a gauntlet of activities at each competition, from wild cow milking to bull riding, ensuring a variety of riders get their chance to perform on the sandy stage of glory. The championships feature the top cowboys and cowgirls who competed at one of the NPRA’s 40 yearly rodeos. 

“I love all the events, so it’s hard to pick a favorite, but bull riding is definitely an event to keep an eye on this year,” said Dave Witherell, an Oregonian and NPRA staff member. Wilder, Idaho’s Trey McFarlane, a seasoned competitor, took home the championship with a score of 82.00. 

Competitors wait in the left chutes for their chance to win the tie down event. The riders use this waiting period to prepare themselves and keep the horses calm amid the chaos. Between the cows, the horses and the equestrian personnel, waiting behind the chute can be overwhelming for everyone involved. During Saturday’s Finals, a calm, cool energy filled the dust-covered arena. Image by Ruby Hampton.

The strive for greatness was evident this year. In steer wrestling, Samuel Mundell earned 6.3 points, sealing his championship buckle. Following close behind him was BoDee Foster with a 6.7, Haydn Maley with 7.3, and Cord Gomes with a 7.7. The winner of the bareback bronc event was a four-time winning 17-year-old high school graduate. The 2024 Rodeo of Champions not only presented exhilarating experienced horsemanship, and let outsiders peer into the greatness of the Northwest’s young riders.

A young girl gets some help dismounting off of her father’s saddle. Her dad is about to compete for the tie down roping event and laughs at his fearless cowgirl. Families work together to keep the rodeo tradition alive and well in their everyday lives, encouraging even the youngest family members to be involved. Once the young competitors get their foothold in competing with the big boys, they often win big. Image by Ruby Hampton.

Many small businesses, including Barbara and Richard’s local jewelry shop, use rodeos to sell their handcrafted items. Barbara and Richard follow the rodeo and other festivals like it selling pieces of jewelry and art. They say they’ve adopted techniques from Kalapuyan artists, learning from their forms of beadwork and weaving techniques to create stunning jewelry and asabikeshiinh (inanimate form word for “spider” or dreamcatchers). Image by Ruby Hampton.