Some pretty serious cowboys and livestock will be showcased when the fifth annual Carson City Pro Rodeo is held Friday and Saturday under the lights at Fuji Park.
Among the expected stars for this show are cowboys like Fallon's David Howard, one of the top International Professional Rodeo Association (IPRA) saddle bronc riders, and Reno bull rider Michael Johnson, a five-time IPRA Western Region champion. Even some of the livestock bring reputations: "Rotten Ralph" the bronc and "Spike" the bull, among others.
Action begins at 7:30 p.m. both nights in the Fuji Park rodeo arena. Part of the IPRA Western Region circuit, this is a family-oriented affair, according to organizer Butch Robinson.
"This is good family entertainment," said Robinson, a Silver Springs rancher who operates the Golden Eagle Rodeo Company. "It gets better every year."
Howard, second in bronc riding at the International Professional Rodeo Association (IPRA) Finals this past January in Oklahoma City, is expected to be one of the featured competitors this weekend.
"He's one of the top bronc riders I've ever seen, and I've been in the business 41 years," Robinson said. "He's got great style and class, and he's a great family man."
Howard, the rider, and "Rotten Ralph," the bronc, have combined to put on some good shows in the past, according to Robinson.
"Rotten Ralph has been saddle bronc horse of the year, and in the past three years, this horse has never been marked under 20 points (out of a possible 25)," he said. "David Howard has ridden this horse five or six times and scored as high as 86 points on him. That shows the quality of the horse and rider."
Johnson is expected to be back to defend the bull riding title he captured in Carson City last July, when he scored an 88 to outduel Paul McMillan.
"Spike" the bull will be another featured attraction at the Carson Rodeo, which has its stock supplied from the Golden Eagle and Hart Bar (Acampo, Calif.) rodeo companies.
"Spike has been my franchise for years," Robinson said with a smile. "He's 13 years old and only been ridden seven times. And yet, you can still walk up and pet him.
The animals are vital, Robinson emphasized.
"You've got to take care of the stock," he said. "They're like good athletes. They're hard to find."
Then there are competitors who simply enjoy the sport. One of those is 36-year-old David Faught of Fallon, a veterinarian and father of three who competes in weekend rodeos. Last year, he won the steer wrestling and placed second in calf roping on the final night of the Carson Rodeo.
"There are guys who do this for a living. I do it for fun ... this is what you would call a hobby for me," Faught said after posting a time of 5.0 seconds to win last year's steer wrestling in Carson City. "I wish I could do it all the time because I love it, but work comes first. Family, work and rodeo ... that's the order of priorities."