43rd Annual Cherokee Chamber of Commerce PRCA Rodeo

Bareback Riding was the first event held at the 43rd annual Cherokee Chamber PRCA Rodeo on Thursday night, May 28. at the Cherokee County Fair grounds. The rider above tries to hold on while his horse seems to defy gravity as the Cherokee Rodeo got underway. (Photo by Mike Leckband)

Hold on tight - This cowboy hangs on tight in the bull riding event during Thursday night's performance of the Cherokee Chamber PRCA Rodeo, held at the Cherokee County Fair Grounds. (Photo by Vanessa Reusch)

Out of the gate - The cowboys pictured here are just about to open the gate to let a rider and his horse loose, and see how long the rider can stay on the horse as the horse tries to buck him off. (Photo by Mike Leckband)

Jumping Rope - Hippy jumps rope in the arena during Thursday night's performance of the PRCA Rodeo at the Cherokee County Fairgrounds. (Photo by Vanessa Reusch)

Wild Thang and the Ghost Riders - Wild Thang and the Ghost Riders ride out of the arena in style after their entertaining act during THursday night's Cherokee County PRCA Rodeo at the Cherokee County Fairgrounds. (Photo by Vanessa Reusch)

Record Crowd - A record number of people attended the opening night of the Cherokee County PRCA Rodeo on Thursday evening. (Photo by Vanessa Reusch)

Welcoming Rodeo Fans - Bob "The Colonel" Barnes, right, and his wife, Donita, welcomed rodeo fans to the 43rd Cherokee Chamber of Commerce Rodeo on Thursday evening. (Photo by Mike Leckband)

Calf Ribbon Race - Many of the children who attended the rodeo on Thursday participated in several different claf ribbon races held in the Main Arena. The goal was to grab the handkerchief off of the tail of a small calf. (Photo by Mike Leckband)

Hold On Tight - Riders during the Bareback Riding had to hold on tight while riding their horse, during the Cherokee hamber of Commerce Rodeo at the Cherokee County Fairgrounds. (Photo by Mike Leckband)

Off and Running - Rider and horse were off running and kicking as the chute gates were opened during the Bareback riding at Thursday evening's Rodeo performance. (Photo by Mike Leckband)

Roped him - This cowboy successfully lassoed his calf in the calf roping event at Thursday night's performance. (Photo by Vanessa Reusch)

Meeting of the Minds - The bullfighters and some of the cowboys review the night's events after the closing of the Rodeo Performance Thursday evening. (Photo by Vanessa Reusch)

On Friday, Danny's Sports Spot hosted the 2009 Cherokee PRCA Rodeo Queen Luncheon, where the public had a chance to meet the Rodeo queen contestants, along with other Rodeo personalities. Pictured left to right are: Emily Woltman, Madison Lange, Melissa Tabke and Annie Zylstra. (Photo by Mike Leckband)

Kicking and a -bucking is what one expects when attending a rodeo. That just what fans saw while attending this year's Cherokee Chamber of Commerce PRCA Rodeo. (Photo by Mike Leckband)

Welcoming rodeo fans - Rodeo announcer Andy Seiler spent his first time announcing at the Cherokee Rodeo on Thursday. (Photo by Mike Leckband)

BULLDOGGING! (Photo by Mike Leckband)

Calf Roping - This cowboy is pictured roping a calf during Thursday night's calf roping event held at the Cherokee County Fair grounds. (Photo by Mike Leckband)

Flag riders - Opening all three nights of the Cherokee Chamber of Commerce PRCA Rodeo were a trio of flag riders. (Photo by Sarah Gengler)

Fun and games - There were plenty of activities for the younger cowboys and cowgirls at this year's Rodeo including frisbee throwing at the mini frisbee golf course. (Photo by Mike Leckband)

Ghost Rider - The Ghost Riders entertained the crowd during Thursday night's performance of the Cherokee Chamber of Commerce PRCA Rodeo held at the Cherokee County Fair Grounds. Photo by Vanessa Reusch (Photo by Vanessa Reusch)

Miss Rodeo Cherokee 2008 - Jessica Rausch, Miss Rodeo Cherokee 2008 , was on hand at last week's Rodeo to fulfill her duties as the rodeo ambassador and welcome rodeo fans to Cherokee. (Photo by Mike Leckband)

Saddle up - Marty Barnes is pictured handing out saddles and getting things ready prior to the start of the rodeo on Thursday. (Photo by Mike Leckband)

This rodeo clown springs to the fallen cowboy to shield him from the bucking bronco.

Out of the gate - This cowboy hangs on while his horse turns and starts to buck while getting out of the gate during Thursday's saddle bronc riding event. (Photo by Mike Leckband)

Pony rides and petting zoo - The Cherokee Chamber of Commerce PRCA Rodeo hosted several activities for the smaller rodeo fans, including pony rides and a petting zoo. (Photo by Mike Leckband)

Pickup man - Pickup man Westin Barnes races after horse and rider to help the cowboy on the horse during the bareback riding at Thursday night's performance of the Cherokee Chamber of Commerce PRCA Rodeo held at the Cherokee County Fair Grounds. (Photo by Vanessa Reusch)

He's got the steer by the horns - This cowboy has his steer by the horns ,and all he has to do is wrestle him to the ground during the steer wrestling at Friday night's performance of the Cherokee Chamber of Commerce PRCA Rodeo held at the Cherokee County Fair Grounds. (Photo by Vanessa Reusch)

Happy Hippy - Rodeo clown Dave Engelkes, aka Hippy, poses in front of the camera Thursday night during the Cherokee Chamber of Commerce PRCA Rodeo held at the Cherokee County Fair Grounds. (Photo by Vanessa Reusch.)

Untie - Lucas Moore and Kevin Yeager help untie calfs during the calf roping at Saturday night's performance of the Cherokee Chamber of Commerce PRCA Rodeo held at the Cherokee County Fair Grounds. These two cowboys were later seen as bullfighters during the bull riding. (Photo by Vanessa Reusch.)

Wild Thang - Tim "Wild Thang" Lepard got a little too wild as rodeo fans sprayed him down with silly string during his performance on Thursday night. (Photo by Mike Leckband)

Barrel racing - Barrel racing was one of the most popular events during the 43rd Cherokee Chamber of Commerce PRCA Rodeo. (Photo by Sarah Gengler)

Hurt calf - The Barnes family take pride in the health and well being of their animals. So when a calf takes a hard fall during the calf roping event they take extra precautions in making sure the calf gets looked at by the team a Valley Vet at Saturday night's performance of the Cherokee Chamber of Commerce PRCA Rodeo held at the Cherokee County Fairgrounds. (Photo by Sarah Gengler)

Depot BBQ - The annual Cherokee Depot barbecue was held at the historic Cherokee Depot on Saturday in conjunction with many other Rodeo events that were happening in Cherokee over the weekend. (Photo by Mike Leckband)

Hold on - This cowboy tosses his calf to the ground during the calf roping event at Saturday night's performance of the Cherokee Chamber of Commerce PRCA Rodeo held at the Cherokee County Fairgrounds. (Photo by Sarah Gengler)

Shoot 'em up - There was a gunfight at the Cherokee Depot on Saturday when a band of robbers attacked a group of passengers after they attempted to robbery a train. To the robbers surprise the train lacked a locked box and so the took the revenge out on the passengers until the law showed up to stop the bandits dead in their tracks. All of the action was part of the train robbery reenactment by the Western Iowa Border Agents. (Photo by Mike Leckband)

Train passengers held up - A gang of bandits held up the passengers who were boarding a train at the Cherokee Depot on Saturday - part of the Western Iowa Border Agents' annual reenactment. (Photo by Mike Leckband)

Miss Rodeo Cherokee 2009 - 17 year-old Melissa Tabke was named Miss Rodeo Cherokee 2009 on Saturday. Tabke, who will be a senior at Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn High School in the fall, is the daughter of Bruce Tabke and Catherine Friesen, both of Marcus. She is pictured here with a new saddle that was awarded to her for being crowned Miss Rodeo Cherokee 2009. (Photo by Sarah Gengler)

Veteran Rodeo stockman Bob Barnes poses with 2009 Cherokee Rodeo Queen Melissa Tabke and her beautiful horse. (Photo by Sarah Gengler)

Half done - Team roping requires precise timing and anticipation between header and heeler. The header has the steer by the horns - now it's up to the heeler to rope both of the steer's hind legs to stop the clock during Saturday night's performance of the Cherokee Chamber of Commerce PRCA Rodeo held at the Cherokee County Fair Grounds. (Photo by Sarah Gengler)

Late night Entertainment at the Rodeo - May City, Iowa native Shawn Mayer, backed by the Buffalo Ridge Band, entertained the crowd at the Fairgrounds following the Friday evening Rodeo performance. (Photo by Vanessa Reusch)

Cart of clowns - The rodeo clowns and bullfighters made a styles appearance in the Rodeo Parade held in Cherokee Saturday afternoon. . (Photo by Vanessa Reusch)

(Photo by Mike Leckband)

Little Barnes into Rodeo - Mason Barnes, grandson of Bob Barnes, enjoys the 43rd Annual Cherokee PRCA rodeo Friday evening from the sidelines with his friends and family. (Photo By Sarah Gengler)

Saddle winner The winner of the Cherokee Chamber PRCA Rodeo saddle made by Bob Leach's Cherokee Saddle Shop was Tammy Roepke of Washta. All proceeds for the saddle raffle went to the maintenance and up-keep of the Cherokee Horse Arena. Material for the saddle was donated by the Cherokee Arena and Phil and Joyce Rupp of Rupp Manufacturing. (Photo by Mike Leckband)

Tired Cowboy - A saddle bronc cowboy starts to undo his hand from its tight hold after riding an eight second ride on a Barnes bucking horse. Pickup man, Westin Barnes rides to help the cowboy out. (Photo by Sarah Gengler)

All the Shriners - Many Shriners - as far as the eye could see - came to Cherokee to make an appearance in the Rodeo parade Saturday afternoon. (Photo by Vanessa Reusch)

White Horse Mounted Patrol - The Shriners' White Horse Mounted Patrol fromf Sioux City were one of many Shriner units that made an appearance in the Rodeo parade Saturday afternoon. (Photo by Vanessa Reusch)