270 Compete in Rowell Ranch Junior Rodeo
All photos courtesy of Darrell Lavin/ www.lavinphotos.com
Over 270 contestants from 1 -19 years of age competed in the three-day Rowell Ranch Junior Rodeo last weekend. Cowboys and cowgirls from throughout the region competed in the final stop on the Bay Area Buckle Series, with Alameda County’s own Erik Smith and Kaylee Centoni taking home top honors and the coveted trophies proclaiming them some of the professional sport of rodeo’s future stars. Smith and Centoni had to have the most points and compete in a minimum of five events at not only the Rowell Ranch Junior Rodeo, the Livermore Junior Rodeo, and the Woodside Junior Rodeo held earlier this summer.
Junior Rodeo events are like those seen in professional rodeo competitions, with some of the most popular among contestants being team roping, barrel racing, pole bending, steer wrestling, and breakaway roping. There are events for every age group at a Junior Rodeo. The goal is to develop future athletes properly, raise awareness about the sport, and understanding from the contestants about rules, sportsmanship, animal welfare, and proper technique.
The popular weekend event included the crowning of Kaitlyn Babel from Alameda County as the 2024 Junior Rodeo Queen.