MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE BARSTOW, Calif. -- Crowds made up of around 5000 rodeo fans from all over Southern California and farther came to enjoy the sights and sounds of the 17th Annual Barstow Rodeo Stampede this past weekend.
The MCLB Barstow base stables hosted the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association event put on by the Barstow Rodeo Group.
The rodeo opened with the Marine Corps Mounted Color Guard from MCLB Barstow and the 11th Armored Calvary Regiment’s Mounted Color Guard from Fort Irwin.
Featured events were bareback riding, steer wrestling, tie-down roping, saddle bronc riding, bull poker, barrel racing, bull riding and more.
Another highlight from the event was the Rodeo Queen pageant. The queens were crowned on Sunday: Anne Marie Ellis as the Little Miss Teen Queen, Heather Marie Philpott as the Teen Queen and Cher’Rae Anne Steiner as the Queen.
Children joined in the time honored rodeo tradition of mutton bustin’, where contestants try to ride a runaway sheep for as long as possible. “The kids mutton bustin’ excites the crowd the most,” said Mal Wessel, the chairman of the Barstow Rodeo Group.
“It was probably the best rodeo we have had in the 17-year history, the first one was exciting but they keep on getting better,” said Wessel.