Gerry Volunteer Fire Department Rodeo

8/11/2006 - Rain Threat Doesn’t Keep Crowds Away From Event
By PAUL COOLEY

The threat of showers failed to keep a near-capacity crowd from enjoying the spills and thrills and comedy of rodeo for the second consecutive night at the 62nd annual Gerry Rodeo.The opening festivities featured a special tribute to the men and women of the Armed Forces as current and past members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines were asked to stand and were honored as ‘‘true heroesî. The traditional Grand Entry, featuring the serpentine ride of the more than 150 contestants and performers, saw Bob Barnes, who has been producing rodeos across the country for more than 57 years, ride into the arena in a horse-drawn sulky. He is a member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Hall of Fame.

The opening event, the bareback bronc riding, had Jake Gee of Pardeeville, Wis., take a wild ride on MJM Ridley Roundup for a 70-point win. He also won Wednesday’s event with a 73- point ride. In the tie-down roping event four ropers beat the winning time from the first performance, with all of them tying their calves in less than eleven seconds. Shane Wesley from Silex, Miss., had the fastest time at 10.5 with Matt McGee of St. Genevieve, Miss., taking second with a 10.8 time. In the team roping, Smokey Smith, Jr., Townsend, Del., and Jason Lyfield, a veterinarian from Chesapeake City, Md., posted the fastest time at 15.5 but failed to beat the winning time of 10.3 from Wednesday night. Bill Lewis of Elizabeth, Colo., who won the first go-round on Wednesday in the saddle bronc event, posted a 71-point ride on Wall Paint but was beaten on Thursday night by Byron Gilliland of Trempealeau, Wis. Gilliland posted a 75 point outing on MJM Valpo Johnny, a bronc who was chosen to perform at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas last December.

The steer wrestling was tough on the cowboys as only three were able to throw their steers. Bill Pfeifer, Franklinville, N.J., had the fastest time at 7.5 seconds with Junior Allo of Monroe, N.J., placing second with an 8.7 time. Both beat Wednesday’s winning time of 14.2.

Seven ladies broke 17 seconds in the girls’ barrel racing with Lisa Barone from York Springs, Pa., posting the fastest time of 16.33 seconds. The Barnes Rodeo Company’s bulls again proved too tough for all of the riders as no cowboy was able to hang on for the required eight seconds.

The bull fighters saw plenty of action in protecting the thrown cowboys, giving the fans numerous thrills Rodeo clown Jay Stout kept the crowd laughing throughout the evening with his comedy skits, including a live skunk, a lime green Volkswagen truck, and his Dr. Stout imitation where he attempts to cure a ‘‘patient’’ by dousing him with milk and breaking eggs over his head. His ten-year-old son Daltyn thrilled the spectators with a traditional Indian hoop dance performed inside a ring of fire. Again ‘‘The Texas Kidî Rodney Hays put his 2000 pound Brazilian Gir bull through its paces, including a climb to the top of his 13 foot high camper. Hayes, who has trained more than a dozen young kids to ride and perform, uses two of his young proteges mounted on miniature ponies to perform numerous tricks with his bull, Billy The Kid.

The rodeo continues through the weekend with shows Friday and Saturday nights at 8p.m. and afternoon performances at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The beef barbeque dinners are served at 5 p.m. prior to the evening shows and at noon on Saturday and Sunday. Additional information is available at the rodeo web site http://www.gerryrodeo.org/ or by phoning 985-4847 or 985-5857.

The weekend’s events also include a Sunday morning worship service in the rodeo arena at 9 a.m. with a concert by The Keelingsî, a family Southern gospel group featuring both vocals and instrumentals. In case of rain, the service will be held in the rodeo dining hall. The public is invited. There is no charge but an offering will be taken.


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