MEEKER | Week Five of the Meeker Summer Rodeo Series kicked off Thursday evening with more than just rodeo action. Right after slack finished at 6 p.m., organizers hosted the first annual Kids Pet Show, where children showed off their furry, feathered and even scaly companions. The free event included prizes and plenty of smiles, setting a lighthearted tone ahead of the night’s rodeo events.
The evening opened with steer riding, which featured three competitors vying for a $213 jackpot. With no qualified rides, the money rolled over, bringing the pot for Week Six to $369.
In the open team roping event, Colton Kreider and Cody Edinger took the win. Kreider later picked up a second victory in the #8 team roping event alongside teammate Dee Stolfus. Edinger also doubled up on wins that evening, teaming with Sherry Dexter to take the dally ribbon roping event.
Taylor Davis of Rifle continued her dominance in the open breakaway event, picking up her third win of the series with a 3.19-second run. Davis previously won in Week One and Week Three. She also won the open barrels in Week Four with a time of 18.34 seconds.
In the ladies breakaway event, Fallon Nielsen picked up back-to-back wins, following up her Week Four time of 3.29 seconds with a 3.50-second run in Week Five. Nielsen discussed her horse’s role in her recent success and how she approaches the pressure of entering the arena as the one to beat.
“It felt good! My horse was solid in the box, and I got a clean, sharp loop off. Overall it felt like a smooth run, and that’s what I’m aiming for. It definitely builds confidence when I’m coming off a good run. But honestly, I don’t think too much about being the one to beat. Everyone ropes tough, and at the end of the day, it really comes down to drawing a good calf and making your run count,” Nielsen said.
That night, she rode her mare Lena and explained how Lena has played a role in her success the last two weeks. She also shared her goals for the remainder of the series.
“She’s quick and really helps me catch up to the faster calves. She does a great job of getting me in the right spot so I can take a good shot. These past couple of weeks, she’s been working great, and that makes a big difference. My biggest goal is just to stay consistent. I want to keep my horse working well. She can get a little hot sometimes, so keeping her quiet and focused is my top priority,” Nielsen said.
There were no qualified runs in the junior breakaway event, meaning the $65 pot will roll over to Week Six.
In the barrel racing events, Vicky Taylor secured her first win of the series in the open barrels, while Brodie Kilduff claimed victory in the junior barrels.
Bull riding featured a new two-section format this year. In both sections—each with six riders—no one managed to stay on for the required eight seconds. With no winners, the prize money continues to grow, and $2,000 will be added to the pot for Week Six.
In the mutton bustin’ event, Makena Krueger notched her third win of the series with a 92-point ride—riding backwards out of the chute.
As the summer rolls on, the Meeker Summer Rodeo Series continues to deliver crowd-pleasing action, big wins and growing jackpots. With just a few weeks left in the series, the competition is heating up—and so is the excitement. Whether it’s seasoned ropers, rising youth riders, or four-legged underdogs in the pet show, there’s something for everyone at the fairgrounds each Thursday night. Week Six kicks off this Thursday with slack at 6 p.m., followed by the rodeo under the lights at 7.
