MEEKER | Last week, the Meeker Summer Rodeo Series continued July 16 at the Rio Blanco County Fairgrounds, where familiar faces returned to the winner’s circle and the bull riding jackpot continued to grow after another week without a qualified ride.
Slack began at 6 p.m. before the rodeo performance started at 7 p.m., as contestants from around the region competed in team roping, breakaway roping, barrel racing and roughstock events.
That night’s top storyline belonged to Dawson Nunn, who remained unbeaten in the ranch bronc riding competition. Nunn claimed his fourth consecutive event victory, extending his dominance through the first five weeks of the summer series.
Nunn credited part of his recent success to a new saddle that has made him more comfortable in the arena.
“My biggest thing with winning the last few is the new saddle I purchased,” Nunn said. “It fits a lot better and is a lot more comfortable.”
He said the horse he drew this week presented a different challenge than previous rides.
“The only thing that felt a little different was it was a smaller horse, so it didn’t buck as hard as the rest,” he said.
Despite his four-event winning streak, Nunn said his approach remains unchanged.
“Winning four in a row does not change my approach for the rest of the year,” Nunn said. “If I keep riding good, it builds good habits and builds my name up a little.”
Competing in front of the Meeker crowd has made the streak even more rewarding.
“Building this kind of streak in front of the Meeker crowd makes it fun because they know you are going to be there and show out every chance you get,” he said.
Looking ahead, Nunn said he plans to stay consistent while appreciating the support of his family.
“My goals for the rest of the year is keep making good rides,” he said. “Having the support from my family coming all the way from Utah helps keep me in a good mindset to do so.”
JB Raley also continued his strong summer in the steer riding, earning his second consecutive event victory.
In the No. 11 team roping, Bo Brown and Travis Anderson teamed up to earn first place, while Teresa Anderson and Cody Edinger captured the No. 8 team roping title.
Alexis Vreeman and Chance Knez claimed the dally ribbon roping championship.
Ellie Anderson continued her successful summer by winning the open breakaway, while Fallon Nielsen topped the ladies breakaway division. Carter Critton earned first place in the junior breakaway.
Nielsen said the key to her winning run was getting a clean start and trusting her instincts.
“My main focus was to make sure I didn’t leave too early,” Nielsen said. “After that it was just muscle memory. The whole run happened so fast it was kind of a blur.”
She said getting out of the box well made all the difference.
“I got a really good start on my calf, and that set everything up,” she said.
Nielsen competed aboard her horse Lena, a mare she said has continued to improve over the past few years.
“She has come a long way over the last few years, and I am really proud of her,” Nielsen said. “She’s become so much calmer and more consistent, and she’s been giving me a lot of confidence.”
She added that competitors benefited from favorable arena conditions before rain moved into the area.
“The arena worked well for the breakaway,” Nielsen said. “We were also lucky to finish up before the rain came.”
Nielsen said earning a win in Meeker carries special meaning because of her history with the series.
“Meeker has been a big part of my rodeo journey, so it is exciting to have a good run there,” she said.
Looking ahead, Nielsen said she plans to keep enjoying the sport while continuing to improve.
“My goals for the rest of the summer are to keep having fun and enjoying the process,” she said. “I’ve really been enjoying roping without putting too much pressure on myself or my horse.”
Angelina Vreeman claimed the open barrel racing title, while Tayah Richens earned the win in the junior barrels.
Vreeman said she knew she and her horse were working together from the moment they entered the arena.
“My run felt smooth Thursday night from the second I entered the gate until I was walking out of the arena patting my horse,” Vreeman said. “My horse and I were on the same page the entire run, which helped everything come together.”
She credited her horse, Phoenix, for making the winning run possible.
“I think the difference was how well my horse worked for me,” Vreeman said. “She was focused, turned every barrel exactly how I wanted her to and everything clicked just right.”
Vreeman has ridden Phoenix for about three years and said the mare’s consistency has helped strengthen their partnership.
“She knows her job and gives 100% all the time,” Vreeman said. “She’s such a blessing and I could never do it without her.”
The pair has continued to improve throughout the summer.
“Every rodeo has made us more confident and consistent,” she said. “We are finally learning to work with one another and not against each other.”
Vreeman said Meeker remains one of her favorite rodeos each summer.
“The crowd is engaged, people are kind, and it’s a great place to compete,” she said. “I love being able to come to Meeker.”
Looking ahead, Vreeman said she hopes to continue building confidence with Phoenix before high school rodeo begins.
“My biggest goals for the rest of the season are to keep improving with Phoenix and get her working at her very best before high school rodeo starts,” Vreeman said. “I want to continue learning and getting better with every run, qualify for the CPRA Finals and finish the season strong.”
Alan Jessup took top honors in the mutton bustin’ competition.
For the fifth consecutive rodeo, the bull riding event ended without a qualified ride. Riders once again came up empty in their attempts to claim the added-money purse, pushing the jackpot to $3,000 for this week’s rodeo.
The growing purse has become one of the biggest storylines of the summer series and is expected to attract another competitive field when the rodeo returns.
The Meeker Summer Rodeo Series continues Thursday, July 23, for week six at the Rio Blanco County Fairgrounds. Slack begins at 6 p.m., followed by the rodeo performance at 7 p.m. With a $3,000-added bull riding purse on the line, competitors will once again have the opportunity to chase one of the largest payouts of the summer.
