Durango Fiesta Days celebrates Wild West heritage
Stormi Pitman, 16, teaches Riley Sharp, 8, how to rope Tuesday at the fourth annual Snow Top Exceptional Rodeo & Kids Petting Zoo at La Plata County Fairgrounds. Stormi is the daughter of Bo and Tooie Pitman, and Riley is the son of Todd and Jessica Sharp.
Seven-year-old Merik Motley lost his cowboy hat on a short first attempt at mutton busting, but he got back on and rode for a good hundred feet before falling again. Merik is the son of Morgan Motley and Mariah Hotter.
The fourth annual Snow Top Exceptional Rodeo & Kids Petting Zoo enticed children to try some ranching skills such as roping, horseback riding, and taking a spin on a mechanical bull. The event was part of Durango Fiesta Days.
STEVE LEWIS/Durango Herald - Merik Motley, 7, lost his cowboy hat on a short first attempt at mutton busting on Tuesday afternoon but got back on and rode for a good hundred feet before falling again. Merik is the son of Morgan Motley and Mariah Hotter.
STEVE LEWIS/Durango Herald - Rance Rathjen, 6, gets a bull rope ready for a friend during the calf riding competion on Tuesday at the La Plata County Fairgrounds. Rance is the son of Clay and Misty Rathjen.
STEVE LEWIS/Durango Herald - Stormi Pitman, 16, Madeline Shaline, 14, Sadie Smith, 14, and Hannah Looman, 15, watch the calf riding competition on Tuesday at the La Plata County Fairgrounds.
STEVE LEWIS/Durango Herald - The 4th Annual Snow Top Exceptional Rodeo & Kids Petting Zoo enticed children to try things like roping, horseback riding, and taking a spin on a mechanical bull. The event was part of Durango Fiesta Days.
STEVE LEWIS/Durango Herald - Robert Mestas takes a turn on the mechanical bull on Tuesday at the La Plata County Fairgrounds.
STEVE LEWIS/Durango Herald - B.T. Cook of Ignacio attempts to untangle a couple of ropes from a stubborn bull that refused to leave the arena until several cowboys and cowgirls were dispatched and ushered it into a pen.
STEVE LEWIS/Durango Herald - Cody Snow of Pagosa Springs herds an errant bull towards the pens on Tuesday at the La Plata County Fairgrounds.
STEVE LEWIS/Durango Herald - Rance Rathjen, 6, left, helps his friend, Bodie Hine, 9, get ready to ride a calf during Durango Fiesta Days on Tuesday at the La Plata County Fairgrounds. Rance is the son of Clay and Misty Rathjen, and Bodie is the son of Ritchie and Jennifer Hine.
STEVE LEWIS/Durango Herald - Durango Fiesta Days got started last week at the La Plata County Fairgrounds and will continue through Sunday with rodeo events all week, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Parade and the crowning of the Durango Fiesta Days Queen on Saturday, and Cowboy Church and a final rodeo on Sunday. For information on additional events, visit www.durangofiestadays.com. Stormi Pitman, 16, teaches Riley Sharp, 8, how to rope at the 4th Annual Snow Top Exceptional Rodeo & Kids Petting Zoo on Tuesday at the fairgrounds. Stormi is the daughter of Bo and Tooie Pitman, and Riley is the son of Todd and Jessica Sharp.
STEVE LEWIS/Durango Herald - Stormi Pitman, 16, back left, practices her roping technique on her friend, Madeline Shaline, 14, front, during Durango Fiesta Days on Tuesday at the La Plata County Fairgrounds. Watching are Hannah Looman, 15, back center, and Sadie Smith, 14. Stormi is the daughter of Bo and Tooie Pitman, Madeline is the daughter of Deck and Diane Shaline, Hannah is the daughter of Philip Looman, and Sadie is the daughter of Mark Smith and Tammy Sloan Smith.
Durango Fiesta Days, which is in its 78th year, began last week at the La Plata County Fairgrounds and will continue through Sunday with rodeo events all week. Some notable events are the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Parade and the crowning of the Durango Fiesta Days Queen on Saturday, and Cowboy Church and the championship rodeo on Sunday. For information on other events, visit www.durangofiestadays.com.
Steve Lewis
