{"id":46114,"date":"2021-06-12T06:30:00","date_gmt":"2021-06-12T12:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/ute-mountain-rodeo-music-entertain-crowd\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T03:29:26","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T09:29:26","slug":"ute-mountain-rodeo-music-entertain-crowd","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/ute-mountain-rodeo-music-entertain-crowd\/","title":{"rendered":"Ute Mountain rodeo, music entertain crowd"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Mike
Mike Solberg competes on Friday night in the bareback riding competition during the Ute Mountain Roundup Rodeo at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

A large crowd packed the stands this weekend to enjoy the variety of events and fun atmosphere at the Ute Mountain Roundup Rodeo in Cortez.<\/p>\n

A record 354 contestants signed up to compete in the three-night professional rodeo, held at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds.<\/p>\n

Rock and country music blasted through the summer air as contestants competed in bareback riding, steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding, team roping, breakaway roping, barrel racing and a crowd favorite \u2014 bull riding.<\/p>\n

Staying on a raging bull as it bucked and twisted for the required 8 seconds was elusive for most riders Friday. Only cowboys Corye Daily, of Dublin Texas, and JaCauy Hale, of Ganado, Arizona, rode the 8 seconds needed to earn a score.<\/p>\n

\"Chisum
Chisum Docheff competes on Friday night in the steer wrestling competition during the Ute Mountain Roundup Rodeo at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Going into Saturday, the bull riding standings had JC Mortensen, of Paulden, Arizona, holding onto the lead with his score of 89 Thursday night \u2014 a Ute Mountain Rodeo arena record.<\/p>\n

Daniel Lambright, of Divide, Colorado, was in second with a score of 82, and Corye Daily in third place at 79.5.<\/p>\n

\"Chenae
Chenae Vest competes on Friday night in the barrel racing during the Ute Mountain Roundup Rodeo at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>
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The Ute Mountain Roundup Rodeo on Friday night at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald) <\/p>\n

FINAL RESULTS<\/strong>Bareback bronc riding<\/strong>Jade Taton, 82.5 pointsSpur Lacasse, 82 pointsLogan Patterson, 81.5 pointsEvan Betony, 80.5 points<\/p>\n

Steer wrestling<\/strong>Chase Black, 3.7 secondsZack Jongbloed, 4.2 secondsNick Guy, 4.4 secondsBill Claunch, 5.0 seconds<\/p>\n

Tie-down roping<\/strong>Westyn Hughes, 7.9 secondsStetson Vest, 8.0 secondsClayton Smith, 8.1 secondsColton Kofoed 8.1 seconds<\/p>\n

Saddle bronc riding<\/strong>Leon Fountain, 81.5 pointsReed Neely, 78 pointsCreighton Curley, 78 pointsRoss Griffin, 75 points<\/p>\n

Breakaway roping<\/strong>Lakota Bird, 2.8 seconds (tie)Bailey Bates, 2.8 seconds (tie)Codilynn McPherson, 2.9 secondsJustine Doka, 3.6 seconds<\/p>\n

Team roping<\/strong>Erich Rogers\/Paden Bray, 4.4 secondsQuinn Kesler\/Caleb Hendrix, 4.8 secondsRhen Richard\/Max Kuttler 5.5 secondsWyatt Lacey\/Tye Reddell, 6.0 seconds<\/p>\n

Barrel racing<\/strong>Molly Otto, 17.26 secondsKatie Drosihn 17.33 secondsLeia Plummer, 17.54 secondsShali Lord, 17.56 seconds<\/p>\n

Bull riding<\/strong>JC Mortensen, 89 pointsDaniel Lambright, 82 pointsCorye Daily, 79.5 pointsJaCauy Hale, 70 points<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

In women\u2019s barrel racing, Molly Otto, of Grand Forks, North Dakota, also set a new Ute Mountain Rodeo record, sprinting to a finish in 17.2 seconds.<\/p>\n

Going into Saturday, Otto held the overall lead in the event. Leia Plummer, of Bosque Farms, New Mexico, was in second place with 17.54 seconds, and Shali Lord in third with 17.56 seconds.<\/p>\n

Otto\u2019s flawless guidance of her five-year-old horse, Chewy, to maneuver the clover leaf pattern during the Friday evening performance gave her just the boost she needed.<\/p>\n

\u201cThings just haven\u2019t been clicking lately, so it felt amazing to go out there and make a good run,\u201d said Otto. \u201cWe\u2019ve been hauling hard, and I\u2019ve been awake for 36 hours now, but I can count on my horse because Chewy loves to work and just amazes me every time.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The Team Roping leader board also changed after Erich Rogers of Roundrock, Arizona, and Paden Bray from Stephenville, Texas, roped their steer in 4.4 seconds. Rogers is a 10-time Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifier and the 2017 World Champion Team Roping Header. Though Bray is only 22 years old, he already has an impressive resume. Rogers and Bray have been roping partners since 2019 and have been on a winning streak.<\/p>\n

Before the event, contestants enjoyed Montezuma County hospitality, relaxed in the chow tent, and were in good spirits. A few took the time to speak with The Journal<\/em> about their events and jobs.<\/p>\n

Professional bull rider Jess Davison, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, competes in 60 to 75 rodeos per year, and enjoys the Cortez event.<\/p>\n

For him rodeo \u201cis a way of life, an adrenaline rush.\u201d At age 26, Davison has ridden professionally for eight years, and plans to keep up the sport while he is still young.<\/p>\n

\"Professional
Professional bull rider Jess Davison, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, competes in 60 to 75 rodeos per year, including at the Ute Mountain Roundup Rodeo. (Jim Mimiaga\/The Journal)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

He held on for 5 seconds Friday before being thrown off. The challenge and \u201cenjoyment of \u201cconquering the beast\u201d keeps him motivated.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s got the scars from previous battles with the bulls including broken rib, forearm, and scapula, torn knee tendons, and a few concussions.<\/p>\n

\u201cBull riders have a high pain tolerance,\u201d he says matter-of-factly.<\/p>\n

The traveling and the crowds are also nice perks, Davison said.<\/p>\n

\u201cBull riding is great entertainment for the crowd, it is something not many people can do,\u201d he said. \u201cWhen they are out there cheering, it is a whole lot of fun for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Mike
Mike Solberg competes Friday night in the bareback riding competition during the Ute Mountain Roundup Rodeo at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds. (Jerry McBride\/Durango Herald)<\/span>cca<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>

Bullfighter Zach Dezol, of Elbert Colorado, was there to help keep bull riders safe after they get bucked off and scramble away from the animals that weigh 1,500 to 2,000 pounds.<\/p>\n

During the ride, two bullfighters on foot distract the bull and lead it away from the rider. They actually reach in and raise the head of the bull in the midst of the violent bucking so it does not see the rider on the ground.<\/p>\n

Meaner bulls will try and go for the fallen rider, Dezol said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is our job to get the bull to follow us, and not the rider,\u201d he said. \u201cSometimes the ones with attitudes will go after us too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dezol has been a bullfighter for eight years, and was previously a bull rider. The people of the rodeo and excitement of the event have him hooked.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an adrenaline rush. What I love is that as bullfighters we work 15 or more bull rides in a night, whereas the bull riders are done in 8 seconds or less,\u201d Dezol said.<\/p>\n

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