Saturday, July 19, was a good day at the 104th annual Fortuna Rodeo to watch and photograph the talented athletes and their skilled animals compete in several events. And on this day, the bulls won — not a single rider lasted eight seconds. A 6-year-old cowboy won a belt buckle and a new hat, however, for best ride at the afternoon mutton-busting event.
As you entered Rohner Park in Fortuna, you could see a large pop-up village of RVs and horse trailers that filled the backside of Tom McWhorter Arena this last week. Nine days of concerts, events and activities were scheduled this year with the theme of “Shake, Rattle and Rodeo!”
Other events this year included a 5k run, a Monday Chili Cookoff, Kid’s Street Games and Penny Scramble (there are rumors that inflation’s impact may lead to a Nickle Scramble in the future), six days of carnival, two days of free-admission Junior Rodeo, bull riding and Quadiators, two days of rodeo competition, a Saturday pancake breakfast after the parade and a Sunday barbecue lunch.
The schedule also included two new additions. The repurposed rodeo grounds became the “Country on the Coast” concert venue. “Our Friday night crowd was our largest since COVID happened,” said Shannon McWhorter, president of the Rodeo Committee.
The other new performance this year was by the Riata Ranch Cowboy Girls. “Lots of horsemanship and rope tricks,” said McWhorter. “Some of the tricks are dangerous and it’s been an impressive display of athleticism by the horses and girls.” Jennifer Nicholson has led the performance team from Three Rivers, California, since 1976, and it has traveled widely to 22 countries around the world and even performed at Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012.
On Saturday afternoon, McWhorter was upbeat about how this year’s rodeo was going. “Our rodeo entries were filled one hour after we opened,” he said. “People have come from all over California and Oregon, many of them happily escaping hot weather back home. Our community support has been great and the weather has been perfect every single day.”
Honored this year as grand marshal was Christine Barkdull, owner of the Bar W Ranch near Bridgeville, who was named Best Junior Cowgirl in the 1956 Fortuna Rodeo Parade and a Fortuna Rodeo Theme Girl in 1965.
At Saturday’s rodeo opening, long-time Fortuna resident Frank Hizer, who died this past year, was remembered with an Empty Saddle Tribute for his many years of civic activities, service on the board of the Fortuna Rodeo and 43 years in the Fortuna Volunteer Fire Department. He had been honored as Fortuna Rodeo grand marshal in 2006. See the full slideshow of highlights from Saturday’s events at northcoastjournal.com.
Mark Larson (he/him) is a retired Cal Poly Humboldt journalism professor and active freelance photographer who likes to walk.
This article appears in A Saturday at the Rodeo.