Bransyn Harper competes at the Saturday, June 16, Cinnabar Mountain Playdays youth rodeo.

More than 40 youths were back in the swing of things, competing at last weekend’s Cinnabar Mountain Playdays youth rodeo series at the Grant County Fairgrounds.

“We were happy with the participation,” said CMP board president Didgette McCracken.

“I always like that it’s families that are coming together — grandparents, parents, cousins, brothers and sisters — that’s the fun part,” she said. “Everybody is coming together and supporting their kids having fun and competing.”

Kids up to 18 years of age can participate in seven events: barrel racing, pole bending, goat tying, dummy roping, keyhole race, flag race and figure eight.

The youngest are in the lead line group, then pee wee and juniors, up to intermediate and seniors.

Several were decked out in red, white and blue to celebrate the “Patriot Days” theme June 16-17.

Goat flanking for the juniors and goat tying for the intermediates are new events this year. McCracken said those events help prepare them for the next level of rodeo.

Sam McCracken, an intermediate competitor, said he was glad to be competing again with his horse.

“I was happy to be back,” he said.

He competed in all the events and said goat tying was his favorite.

“I like it because it relates to other events, like calf tying,” he said.

Monte Legg and others held a goat flanking and tying clinic after Sunday’s rodeo to help kids learn the technique. Five youths stayed an extra hour for the lessons.

“A lot of kids come back and compete year after year,” said Didgette McCracken. “It’s amazing to look back and think of where they came from and how much they’ve improved.”

The next CMP rodeos will be the weekends of July 21-22 and Aug. 4-5, which will be a “Tough Enough to Wear Pink” event. The events are free for spectators.

A CMP membership is $30 for an individual, $45 for a family, and entry fees are $2 per event or $10 per day. CMP youths must participate in at least four playdays to be eligible for year-end awards.

For more information, contact McCracken at 541-575-3520, Emma Winkelman at 541-620-1199, Janet Plocharsky at 541-792-0077, Tiffnie Schmadeka 541-620-2881, Tasha Marciel 541-620-0704 or Nicole Israel 541-620-2624.