Competitors in the Los Alamos County Rodeo Mutton Busting Saturday (August 13) at Brewer Arena on North Mesa. Photo by Miles Breaux

This poor calf ran for its life during the Los Alamos County Rodeo as children of all ages tried to take the ribbon off its tail. Photo by Lena Zielie

Los Alamos Rodeo Queen Kim Prada passes out watermelon to kids. Photo by Lena Zielie

Kids line up in front of the announcer’s box during the Los Alamos County Fair. Photo by Lena Zielie

Presentation of the Stars and Stripes at the Los Alamos County Rodeo. Photo by Eric Schaller

Presentation of the Stars and Stripes at the Los Alamos County Rodeo. Photo by Eric Schaller

The stands were full and many more attendees were standing along the fence. Photo by Eric Schaller

A wrangler works to get a bronc back into the corral after it has tossed the cowboy ‘high, wide and handsome’. Photo by Eric Schaller

A young Espanola Valley cowboy takes a fascinated boy for a ride on his horse, with the mother’s permission of course. Photo by Eric Schaller

Jose, a friendly and skilled cowboy from the Espanola Valley poses for a photo. Photo by Eric Schaller

Ready: The Rodeo is a very family-friendly event and includes the ‘Boot Race’ where kids put their shoes in a pile and they are all mixed up. The kids then line up on the starting line and when the announcer says, ‘Go!’ they run to find their shoes, put them on, and run back to the starting line.  The first one back to the starting line wins! There was lots of laughter and cheering from the crowd. Photo by Eric Schaller

Kids ‘set’ to run during the Boot Race. Photo by Eric Schaller

Kids run towards the pile of footwear. Photo by Eric Schaller

The scramble – so many boots, so little time. Photo by Eric Schaller