Fiesta Days Rodeo delivers excitement

SPANISH FORK — Kristen Coleman can't remember celebrating Pioneer Days any other way than in the grandstands of the Fiesta Days Rodeo.

"This is a family tradition," said the Provo mom of four during Friday night's Pioneer Days performance. "We've been coming since we were kids. We come to the parade, go to the carnival and then we come here."

Coleman's father, David Gardner, 70, said he was born and raised just across the street from the Spanish Fork Fairgrounds.

"There's a lot of action," he said of why he and his family commemorate Pioneer Day with the rodeo. "It's a good rodeo."

But it's not just lifelong Spanish Fork residents who remain captivated by the 67-year-old rodeo, which sold out its 6,700 seats this year before performances began.

Melody Anthony, 27, is from Idaho and now teaches school in Pleasant Grove.

"It's the best rodeo in Utah," she said.

Grayson Van Leeuwen, an Olympus High graduate, grew up attending another Utah favorite, the Oakley Rodeo, on July 4.

"It's an excellent rodeo," he said, acknowledging the Fiesta Days Rodeo is definitely in the same league. "They really get into it over here. I'm surprised."

Those who braved the windy conditions and occasional light rain enjoyed a competitive night of rodeo.

Nadine Lynn Kern, Herriman, had the night's fastest time in barrel racing with 17.38 seconds. She said she used to be a spectator but started competing in Spanish Fork two years ago.

"I like this rodeo," said the 22-year-old. "It's got good ground."

The woman she calls her mentor, Annie Rose, who trains barrel horses and riders and is a National Finals Rodeo qualifier herself, said it is one of the best for several reasons.

"This is a good money rodeo," she said. "Money brings them (top competitors), and the crowd is great. Spanish Fork is very supportive of rodeo."

One of the Fiesta Days favorites is mutton busting, an event in which children try to ride a sheep that wants to race across the arena to get to a herd of sheep.

Each child rides and the longer they hold on, the better they score. In the three performances thus far, a cowgirl has won each competition.

Friday night it was 7-year-old Shelby Patten, Elk Ridge.