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 […]
Fortuna Rodeo
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Scenes from the Junior Rodeo
Nearly 200 boys and girls signed up for a chance to compete in seven age divisions for saddles, lots of buckles and cash awards at the Fortuna Junior Rodeo at the rodeo grounds in Rohner Park earlier this month. When I asked rodeo participants “What event or events are you participating in?” the most common […]
Posted inArts + Scene
Hold onto Your Hats, Rodeo’s Back!
Nothing says summer like the return of the Fortuna Rodeo, happening July 11-18. All your favorite events are back including rodeo and junior rodeo action, carnival fun for the kids, Bullfighters Only and Quadiator thrills, and Fortuna’s famous rodeo barbecue. Satisfy your need for steed at the Bulls, Broncs, Bands & Brews, lace up for […]
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Fortuna Rodeo Canceled Amid COVID
The Fortuna Rodeo Association announced today that the annual event has been canceled this year. “A lot of time and effort was put in with the hopes of having the rodeo this year,” the news release from association President Shannon McWhorter states. “Unfortunately, the current conditions make it unrealistic to hold even a drastically paired […]
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Fortuna Businesses Struggle with Ripple Effects of SIP
The COVID-19 shelter-in-place order has had mixed impacts on the Friendly City. Fortuna’s small-business-dense Main Street has weathered trouble before: The 2008 financial crisis and recession shuttered some retail spaces, but the town rebounded. In 2015 a fire burned down the historic Star Hotel, which housed a music store and pharmacy. The town rebuilt. But as […]
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Rodeo Bucks Along
The Fortuna Rodeo is hitting full stride, with busy days planned today and tomorrow, when the adults will take center stage. But Thursday was all about the juniors, and local photographer Thomas Hardy was there to catch the little ones in action. For a full schedule or rodeo festivities, including the famous rodeo BBQ hitting […]