Opening night of the 52nd annual Kueckelhan Ranch Rodeo featured talented cowboys and cowgirls performing on a perfect summer night in North Texas.  Before this popular rodeo wraps up Saturday night, 349 contestants will lay it on the line to see just who will walk (or limp) away with almost $35,000 in prize money.

 

You can bet some of the two-legged athletes in the bronc riding and bull riding events had trouble sleeping Wednesday night after taking tough falls from their four-legged adversaries.  It is just as likely that young cowboys and cowgirls in the stands July 25 at Kueckelhan Arena spent the night dreaming of hanging on for eight seconds, throwing that perfect loop or leaning into a blistering turn around the barrels.

 

Good rodeos are packed with action and entertainment and the Kueckelhan family gave the crowd exactly what they came for Wednesday night.  The rough stock lived up to their name, the featured musical act lived up to their billing and the high-speed precision drill team from Fort Worth, the Cowgirl Chicks, proved they can sing, dance and ride with the best of 'em.  Rodeo clowns Donnie Smith and Jason Gibbs, both of Mount Pleasant, Texas, also turned in a top-notch performance.  Smith and Gibbs were always in the right place at the right time to draw an excited bull's attention away long enough to allow a dazed cowboy to hobble away so he can compete again.

 

When the dust cleared, only one cowboy managed to get the best of the Wing Rodeo stock in each of the bareback, saddle bronc and bull riding events. 

 

Kaufman, Texas cowboy Josh Hudson leads bareback competition with a 76 in round one.  Saddle bronc rider Wilsey McMahon of Cauga, Texas earned a 76 from the judges and Rocky Johnson of Dallas is the early leader in the bull riding competition after putting an 81 on the books opening night.

 

Bailey Catalina of San Antonio, Texas is in first place in the barrel race after edging out Susan Smith of Hodgens, Oklahoma.  Catalina clocked a 17.247, while Smith crossed the line at 17.337.

 

The third and fourth spots in tie-down calf roping went to entries from Oklahoma, but a pair of Texans turned in the best times Wednesday night.  Colt Carter of Dekalb, Texas leads the competition after a 9.0 run in round one and Johnny Emmons of Decatur, Texas is just off the pace with a 9.2.  Budge Herbert of Wister, Oklahoma is close behind with a 9.3 and Chris Neal of Muldrow, Oklahoma will go into the second round in fourth place after being timed in 10.2 Wednesday night.

 

In team roping, Shane Phillips and Martin Lucero hold down the top spot in the early going after turning in a 4.83 in round one.  Joel Buch and Martin Lucero are in second place with a 5.70.

 

In addition to singing and dancing their way into the crowd's hearts, the  Cowgirl Chicks put on a very impressive display of trick riding.

 

Recording artists Baillie and the Boys drove down from Franklin, Tennessee and took over the arena for a 20-minute concert.

 

On Thursday night, David ball will be the featured entertainer.  The Kueckelhan Ranch Rodeo will run through Saturday night.