NISLAND—Originally scheduled for Aug 2—to be held during the Butte/Lawrence County Fair—the Nisland Fair Rodeo (NFR) didn’t get to run as planned. The rains made the arena a muddy mess and for the safety of horses and kids the NFR was postponed by a week.
Rescheduled for August 9, the arena was dry and kids and horses took over the Nisland Fair Rodeo Arena and made for a fun day. This year saw a down turn in contestant numbers over last years record setting turnout. Alicia Jacobs, who is in charge of putting together the youth rodeo said, “we had less contestants than last year because we had to reschedule—the arena was way too wet last weekend—so we had to reschedule. The rodeo was down in numbers.”
In her 10th year of putting on the NFR, Jacobs does it for the tradition. “My dad (Rich Kokesh) ran the rodeo for a long time. He did the kids rodeo for a lot of years, then when he was over it, my older sister, Meg McNeese, took it over,” she explained. “And then when she was done, I said, ‘well, I can’t let it go!’” Her sister, Katy Winter help with all of the paperwork at the rodeo as well.
The NFR awards belt buckles for first place in each event and provides a jackpot type payout for second and third place. For that part, she has help! “Brady orders the buckles and pays for them out of his pocket every year. But then I write him a check to pay him back from the sponsor money,” said Jacobs. After all of the sponsors are gathered, she is able to give him back his money.
Jacobs doesn’t have children that compete in the rodeo, she just gives of her time and energy for the love of it. “I grew up in this arena and 100 other arenas—it’s just, it’s important! I loved coming to the NFR, you know, it’s just a little Podunk little rodeo, but it’s fun! It was important and we made a lot of memories from it,” she explained.
Without volunteers events like the NFR couldn’t run. Jacobs said, “a lot of people that volunteer—everyone jumped in today, and it just worked out. It takes a lot of volunteers! I couldn’t do it without them!”
RESULTS: Barrel Racing – 5-6 Barrels 1st – Rickeigh Lei, 2nd – Quincie Lindscov, 3rd – Coy Westland; 7-9 Barrels 1st – Maxon Dell, 2nd – Rory Miller, 3rd Mason Wishard; 10-13 Barrels, 1st – Natalie Lei, 2nd – Mesa Dell, 3rd – Paisley Braun; 14-18 Barrels 1st – Bianca Bierman, 2nd – Kaydence Lei, 3rd – Calisa Alderson;
Flag Race – 7-9 Flag Race 1st – Mason Wishard, 2nd – Rory Miller, 3rd – Cashtin Green; 10-13 Flag Race 1st – Carly Miller, 2nd – Natalei Lei, 3rd – Tristan Wishard; 14-18 Flag Race 1st – Ty Ewing, 2nd – Clancey Todd.
Pole Bending – 5-6 Poles 1st – Rickeigh Lei, 2nd – Coy Westland, 3rd – Lainey Green; 7-9 Poles 1st – Maxon Dell, 2nd – Rory Miller, 3rd – Mariah Todd, 10-13 Poles 1st – Natalei Lei, 2nd – Paisley Braun, 3rd – Mesa Dell; 14-18 Poles 1st – Atty Eastman, 2nd – Kaydence Lei, McKenzie Rans.
Goats – 5-6 Goat Tail Untying 1st – Coy Westland, 2nd – Hailey Fox, 3rd – Tyann Braun, 7-9 Goat Tail Untying 1st – Mason Dell, 2nd – Mason Wishard, 3rd – Chaizley McTaggart; 10-13 Goat Tying 1st – Paisley Braun, 2nd – Mesa Dell, 3rd – Tristin Wishard; 14-18 Goat Tying 1st – Atty Eastman, 2nd – Remy Cargo, 3rd – Kaydence Lei.
Keyhole Race -14-18 Boys Keyhole Race 1st – Ty Ewing, 2nd Trendon Carr.
Breakaway Roping 5-6 Dummy Roping 1st – Rickeigh Lei, 2nd – Coy Westland, 3rd – Tyann Braun; 14-18 Boys Breakaway 1st – Tegan Hughes, 2nd – Ty Ewing. 14-18 Girls Breakaway 1st – Atty Eastman.
Steer Dobbing – 14-18 Steer Dobbing 1st – Trendon Carr, 2nd – Ty Ewing, 3rd – Clancey Todd.
Pee Wee Division, under age 5, no horses, Flags 1st – Tegan Lei, 2nd McKenna Fox, 3rd – Latham McTaggart; Flags 1st – Tegan Lei, 2nd – McKenna Fox, 3rd – Callen Westland; Goat Tail Untying 1st – Callen Westland, 2nd – Tegan Lei, 3rd – Latham McTaggart; Boot Race 1st – Latham McTaggart, 2nd – McKenna Fox, 3rd – Tegan Lei; Dummy Roping 1st – Latham McTaggart.
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