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In The Money - Youth Competitors Land Over 10 Grand In Junior Rodeo Winnings
8-22 OAK JR Rodeo4
All-around junior-junior champion at the Oakdale Saddle Club Junior Rodeo, Londyn Brazil, speeds toward her remarkable first place time of 19.694 seconds during junior-junior barrels on Saturday. - photo by IKE DODSON/THE LEADER

A herd of 214 youth participants at the Oakdale Saddle Club Junior Rodeo may have departed the arena with dirt stains on their respective leggings, but several left with pockets lined in green on Saturday, Aug. 18.

The saddle club awarded a whopping total of $7,385.50 to high finishers in the various divisions of competition Another $3,000 in buckles and prizes was presented to all-around winners and top-10 finishers in the junior-junior division.

For Oakdale competitors, it was a brilliant success in their home arena.

Oakdale residents combined for eight first place finishes in the 21 reported events. Tanner Kent nailed down the highest single earnings from any event, $240, with his top finish in steer stopping. He also won $63.75 from his fourth place finish in team roping. Travis Kent won boys breakaway to snare $90 in earnings and was fourth ($41.25) in boys goats.

Zach Harbottle won junior bull riding with his 68-point score to collect $159.25. Wyatt Hansen won steer riding ($70), was third in boys breakaway ($60). Donte Martin kept the Oakdale success going with a first place ride in the difficult team roping division to snare $127.

Oakdale High’s District 5 champion, Colton Farquer, won tie-down roping by a landslide to take $93.75. He was also fifth ($80) in steer stopping. Terrilyn Balaam led Oakdale to a fifth place honor ($26.25) in senior girls goats. Her cousin, Mariah Hagemann of Modesto, won the event to collect $78.75.

Rylee George was first ($120) in junior girls goats. Travis Cadwell was third in junior-junior goats while Zane George and Colby George went 7-8 in the same event.

Hagemann also landed fourth ($82) in junior girls barrel racing while Kelsey Cadwell was fifth ($55). Colby George (third), Maci Harvey (fourth) and Zane George (fifth) all placed in junior-junior barrels. Hagemann was also fourth (50.62) in senior girls pole bending. Kelsey Cadwell was fourth ($76.88) and Machaela Sinclair fifth ($51.25) in junior girls pole bending. Kelsey Cadwell also shined in the junior single stake open, where she ended first ($142.5).

The earnings were collected from a portion of the entry fee. The saddle club and various sponsors provided the $125 silver buckles and the assortment of prizes for junior-junior contestants.