Coarsegold Rodeo brings in thousands

Mountain Area tradition celebrates 56 years

By Elizabeth Gabriel

(Updated: Wednesday, May 07, 2008, 6:20 PM)

The pop-up tents were popped up all over the Bohna Arena to add a bit of shade to the viewing area over the weekend for the 56th annual Coarsegold Rodeo.

The smells of Indian tacos, barbecue and kettle corn filled the vendor area, where a couple of Oakhurst honorary mayor candidates -- Mat Sands and Laura Bean -- joined the Marines, the Highway Patrol and others in chatting with the people milling around.

The crowd, thin in the morning, thick in the stands in the afternoons for the big events, came in all ages, shapes and sizes. There were just as many sun hats and tractor hats as there were cowboy hats and equal numbers of flipflops, sports shoes and boots.

The black, cowboy cutouts -- also used like billboards all over the Mountain Area -- were slouching against bails of hay and other backdrops. As always the Coarsegold 4-H snow cone booth did a good business, although there was an ice-cream stand nearby.

As time grew near for opening ceremonies Sunday, trusty Dennis Creighton and his trusty green tractor smoothed and fluffed the arena for an afternoon of rodeoing with the pros -- and some mutton busting with little buckaroos.

By noon Sunday, it was time for the ride of the royalty and the crowning of the new queen, princess and little princess, and all attention was on the arena. Each girl made her pass around the ring, then brought her horse to a stop in the center.

"Queen Mum" Laura Norman, who had earlier gathered the girls together for prizes and thanks, was there with roses, sashes and the crowns.

Jenny Hulak, a 16-year-old junior at Clovis West High School, is the new queen. Sarah Myers, 14, of Raymond is princess and Jessie Miles, 8, also of Raymond, is little princess. Each of the girls received her crown from last year's title holder. Jessie received hers from her sister, Jordan, an "oh, how cute" moment if there ever was one.

Tom and Kristi Bohna, 2008 grand marshals, led the grand entry, looking totally at home on horseback. They have carried on the rodeo tradition on Bohna land, just as Tom's dad did, so they were particular favorites.

Then it was time for the pros, those folks who make a living at it. At this time of year, said the announcer, cowboys on the circuit can, if they plan it right, hit five or six contests in a weekend. If they run out of the money early in Coarsegold, they're off to the next place, where prize money may be waiting.

The committee reported Monday that for the whole rodeo shebang, including Friday's Heritage Day events, about 3,000 people turned up for the show.

The Eastern Madera County Junior Livestock Committee plans, worries and works to put on the the rodeo. The members are taking a breath and will start planning for 2009 nearly as soon as all the shadow cowboy cutouts are safely put away.