54th annual Mul-chu-tha fair & rodeo – Rodeo

March 18, 2016

Mikhail Sundust

Gila River Indian News

The 2016 Mul-Chu-Tha Rodeo was a four-day, riding, roping and wrangling barnburner where dozens of cowboys and cowgirls, ages 5 to 55 and older, saddled up for some dusty days in the Sacaton sun.

Ray Champ, a professional rodeo announcer and member of the Crow tribe of Montana, pumped up the crowd as the emcee of the weekend roundup, which consisted of a Master’s Rodeo, a Junior Rodeo and an All-Indian Rodeo.

The Master’s Rodeo was held on Thursday, Mar. 10, the Junior Rodeo on Friday, Mar. 11, and the All-Indian Rodeo on Saturday and Sunday, Mar. 12-13.

One of the most exciting events of the weekend was the Wild Horse Race, which assigned six teams of three brave cowboys to one wild horse each. All at once the six horses were released and the teams worked to subdue, saddle and ride their horses through a goal line.

In the competitions for buckles and prize money, the riders found tough competition in the team roping, breakaway and barrel racing events. Unfortunately, however, no rider in the All-Indian Rodeo was able to hold onto a bull for a full eight seconds in the bull-riding event.

See official results at www.mul-chu-tha.com