NISLAND—While the rest of the fair was winding down, the youth rodeo kids were just getting started! Once again, the last Saturday of the Butte-Lawrence County Fair was dedicated to the Nisland Fair Youth Rodeo, giving the young riders a day of their own to compete under the hot August sun. The Nisland Fair Youth Rodeo was held on August 1 at the Nisland Fair Grounds Arena.
This year, the rodeo was under new direction. Camarae Lei and Brady Lei took over rodeo producer duties from Alicia Jacobs. Jacobs had been running the show for the past ten years, with her dad, Rich Kokesh, and older sister, Meg McNeese, directing the small rodeo in the years before her.
The Nisland Rodeo is in good hands; the Leis are ready to step in and take over. “Me and my husband have been helping Alicia for the last two years,” explained Camarae. “She [Jacobs] was just ready to retire from it and we were already helping her so we just stepped in and took over.”
The rodeo can’t go on without volunteers helping out along the way. “It went good—we had a lot of help from a lot of parents, and it went pretty smooth today, I think,” shared Camarae.
The husband and wife team plans on continuing to lead the rodeo in the years to come. They are invested in doing their part to keep the rodeo tradition alive so other kids get to experience the joy of competing in the Nisland Youth Rodeo. Around 50 kids, including the Leis’ four daughters, came out to compete in a variety of events at this year’s Nisland Fair Youth Rodeo.
The events were for both boys and girls from under age six to age 18. They were as follows: Pee-Wees under 6 (all events on ground/stick horse): Barrels, Flag Race, Pole Bending, Goat Tail Snatching, Boot Race, Dummy Roping; Ages 7-9: Barrels, Poles, Goat Tail Untying, Flag Race; Ages 10-13: Barrels, Poles, Goat Tying, Flag Race; Ages 14-18 Girls: Barrels, Poles, Goat Tying, Breakaway; Ages 14-18 Boys: Steer Dobbing, Breakaway, Flag Race and Gated Keyhole.
Entries were taken online and required a nominal fee from $5 per event for the non-horse events to $10 for all other events not using livestock and $15 for events utilizing goats, calves or steers.
This was the fourth year buckles were awarded to first-place winners. Cheryl and Curt Westland donated all prizes for second-, third- and fourth-place winners, allowing all of the competitors who placed to receive awards as well. Older youth could pick between fly boots, halters and sports boots, and younger kids could choose between stuffed animals, grooming kits and braiding bands.
Kristy Eastman lent her voice to announcing duties throughout the rodeo, helping keep the events moving along and the crowd informed.
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