BIG CYPRESS — Young cowboys and cowgirls spent the summer competing in the Eastern Indian Rodeo Association’s summer kids rodeo series at the Junior Cypress Rodeo Arena.

The final rodeo on Aug 18 wrapped up the summer competition and by the end of the day, the competitors were adorned with buckles, confidence and perhaps a few bumps and bruises.

About 52 kids ages 4 to 17 participated in three rodeos on June 30, July 28 and Aug. 18 in Big Cypress and Brighton. Events were designed to prepare them for more adult rodeo events and included pole bending, dummy roping, mutton busting, pony riding, calf riding, bull riding, breakaway roping and barrel racing.

“We need more bareback riders in the EIRA,” said emcee Moses Jumper as he announced the pony riding event, in which kids rode bareback and tried to hang on for six seconds.

At the end of the day, the final points and winners were announced. Later, on the EIRA Facebook page, Secretary Melissa Gopher gave a shout out and thanks to EIRA officers Lisa Osceola, Mackenzie Bowers and Moses Jumper as well as all the directors, volunteers and parents who made the summer series a success.

EIRA Open Summer Kids Rodeo Champions
Pole Bending, age 9 to 11 – Avery Savoie
Pole Bending age 13-17 – Cyiah Alvia
Dummy Roping age 3-6 – Brace Miller
Dummy Roping age 7-9 – Stetson Stokes
Mutton Busting age 4-6 – Brace Miller
Youth Pony Riding age 7-9 – Trenton McCleland
Pony Riding age 10-12 – Summer Gopher
Jr Bareback Riding age 14-17 – Kirk Griffin
Calf Riding age 7-10 – Trenton McCleland
Jr Bull Riding age 14-17 – Myron Billie
Jr Breakaway Roping age 10-17 – Ashlynn Collins
Barrel Racing age 4-8 – Talen Jumper
Barrel Racing age 9-12 – Kamryn Hoffman
Barrel Racing age 13-17 – Cyiah Alvia

INFR Qualifiers for Las Vegas (from regional final)
BAREBACK RIDING
Jacoby Johns – Tour
Jaylen Baker – EIRA
STEER WRESTLING
Bryton Edmundson
Dayne John’s
TIE DOWN ROPING
Jobe Johns
Naha Jumper
LADY’S BREAKAWAY ROPING
Trina Bowers-Hipp
Ahnie Jumper
TEAM ROPING HEADERS
Josh Jumper
Justin Gopher
TEAM ROPING HEELERS
Naha Jumper
Ed Harry
LADY’S BARREL RACING
Ashley Parks
Mackenzie Bowers
BULL RIDING
Kdawg Smedley

INFR Jr. BARRELS
Jaleel Wilcox
INFR Jr. BREAKAWAY
Canaan Jumper
INFR Jr. BULLS
Norman Osceola
Justin Gopher Jr.