FREQUENT FLYER MILES:
Tyler Mitchell of Napa catches some air time cowboy style after a rough ride in the saddle bronc event, Sunday at the Cottonwood Rodeo. Unfortunately Mitchell missed the 8-second whistle.

From as far away as Farmington, New Mexico, and as close to home as it gets in Cottonwood, cowboys and cowgirls gathered together to compete and celebrate Mother’s Day, cowboy style.

The weekend started off with the kiddie parade, barbecue, rodeo parade and, last but not least, the 46th annual Cottonwood Rodeo. The arena action featured all events including bareback riding, breakaway roping, bulldogging, team roping, saddle bronc riding, barrel racing for young and old, tie-down roping and bull riding.

The most memorable moments of the weekend were the bareback riding in which 2007 State Champion Alex Meroshnekoff of Red Bluff rode both his broncs for a two day total of 164 points. Seventeen-year-old Katie Lear of Anderson rode away with the fastest time in the breakaway roping with a time of 3.2 seconds. In the bull riding, Keith Roquemore of Cottonwood took first place in the event with an 86-point ride. D.J. Cooper of Cottonwood also covered his bull with an 80-point ride.

Many of the younger cowboys and cowgirls in the area also participated in the events that they have been competing in for the last eight months, and it was their first time competing at the rodeo in Cottonwood.

Erin Gibson, 16, of Palo Cedro was crowned Miss Cottonwood Rodeo for 2008. She is a junior at Foothill High School and will continue to represent Cottonwood at events throughout the state for the remainder of the rodeo season. Gibson plans to continue on in the queen persuit in the future runnng for Miss Redding Rodeo and Miss Rodeo America. She is the daughter of Vicky Gibson of Palo Cedro.

Sandra Roquemore, 16 of Cottonwood was named as the Princess for the Cottonwood Rodeo.