A Flying U Rodeo Co. hauler
It’s not the biggest rodeo, or the one that attracts the most top cowboys, but the Marysville Stampede has something that none of the other rodeos I shoot have: great light. Rodeos (and sporting events in general) usually start at 1pm when the light is directly overhead or at night where you’re totally at the mercy of the quality of artificial lighting the arena has. The Marysville Stampede starts at 5:30 which means that you’re shooting in golden, directional light the whole time.
A Flying U Rodeo Co. hauler
The men behind the legendary Flying U Rodeo Company. The King of the Cowboys, Cotton Rosser…
Cotton Rosser
…and the Prince of the Cowboys (can we make that stick please) Reno Rosser:
Reno Rosser
Kids are a big part of the Marysville Stampede, from the mechanical bull…
A young boy holds onto the mechanical bull.
…to the Silver Dollar Scramble…
Silver Dollar Scramble
…to, of course, mutton bustin’:
Mutton Bustin'
Mutton bustin'
Mutton bustin'
The Marysville Stampede also features team bronc riding which consists of three guys putting a saddle on an unbroken (wild) horse and riding it past the finish line. I knew that one of my Facebook friends would be competing, so I set up behind the chutes to make sure I got a few pictures. Some horses are (much) bigger than others, so they draw to determine which team gets which horse:
Team bronc riders draw cards to determine which horse they have to ride.
Then they wait for the whistle:
Team bronc rider Paul Bianchi of Hollister, CA prepares to open the gate.
And then the carnage:
Team bronc riding
Some timed event action:
Tie-down roper Jared Ferguson of Cottonwood, CA
Steer wrestler Miles Mark Switzer of Morrow Bay, CA
I’ve honestly never seen so many steer wrestlers miss their steer and wreck:
Steer wrestler Danny Bray of Madera, CA misses his steer and gets a face full of dirt.
Steer wrestler Justin DeBraga of Elko, NV filps over after missing his steer.
Steer wrestler Riley York of Loyalton, CA falls short of his steer.
Steer wrestler Ryle Smith of Oakdale, CA misses his steer.
A dearth of entries caused the bareback section to be scratched, but there was a lot of action in saddle bronc riding:
Saddle bronc rider Ethan Lemmons, of Castro Valley, CA gets rides 703.
Ad Bugenig
Can’t beat beams of sunlight cutting through the dust:
Saddle bronc rider Joe Heguy of Elko, NV rides 626
Wes Jones’ swan dive:
Saddle bronc rider Wes Jones of Ferndale, CA gets bucked off 703.
Saddle bronc rider Mert Bradshaw of Eagle Point, OR rides 1925.
The barrel racing takes place when the sun is just clearing the arena, and the light is just awesome:
Barrel racer Sydney Wheeler of Strathmore, CA
Barrel racer Cathy Cagliari of Corning, CA
Barrel racer Mariah Demontigny of Elk Grove, CA
Barrel racer Marvel Murphy of Fallon, NV
Local high school senior Tyler Stueve won Saturday’s bull riding:
Bull rider Tyler Stueve of Marysville, CA rides 009
Bull rider Tyler Stueve of Marysville, CA rides 009
My friend Dominic Benedet, coming off of a shoulder injury, looked great until his bull decided to use the fence to scrape Dom off:
Bull rider Dominic Benedet of Red Bluff, CA rides 09.
The sound of Dom’s head bouncing off of the fence was unpleasant:
Bull rider Dominic Benedet of Red Bluff, CA gets bucked off 09.
This bull rammed the barrel with the clown inside. Rough ride:
51/9 rams the clown barrel
Bull rider Joseph Chamberlain of Newman, CA rides 305
Josh Daries’ bull fell down, so he went over to the official to discuss a re-ride:
Josh Daries talks to an official about a re-ride.
Tough Enough to Wear Pink (Chaps) Day:
Bull rider John Hollandsworth of Chico, CA gets bucked off 925.
Bull rider Tim Myers of Orinda, CA rides 2/9.
After the bull riding, Reno Rosser’s discovery, the Flying U FMX riders performed. On Sunday, delays forced them to jump in almost darkness. Risky for them, but dramatic for pictures:
Flying U FMX
Flying U FMX
Thanks to the Flying U Rodeo Company (Cotton, Reno, and Barbara) for great access once again. While I was in Marysville, I picked up a copy of Rodeo Magazine with my picture on the cover:
My picture of Wes Burns on the cover of Flying U Rodeo Company's Rodeo Magazine
I would love to purchase some mutton bustin’ pictures (my sons participated). Will more pics be posted?
Thanks!
I won’t be selling mutton bustin pictures. Rich Reuf was the official photographer and he might. try sprint2r@yahoo.com
Are these the only pictures you took of this rodeo or are there more on a different website?
I don’t work the way rodeo photographers work. I shoot for media/commercial use, not direct sales.
If you want to see everything you can go here and search for Marysville.