Cowboys and cowgirls from Pennsylvania and beyond showed off their skills at the 38th Annual Benton Rodeo. The four-day event held July 13 through July 16 was packed with competitions including barrel racing, bronc riding and steer wrestling. There were two new events for children this year; the calf scramble and stick riding. For the calf scramble, 3 calves with bows on their tails were released and the first child to remove a bow won. Kids also participated in a stick riding race around the rodeo ring. Trent McFarland, a favorite rodeo clown, was back as well. And on the final day, a cowboy church service was held in the morning. The Benton Rodeo wrapped up later that day with 25 cowboys competing in the Bull-A-Rama.
Benton Rodeo: A Photo Essay
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Jason Wilson competes in bareback bronc at the Benton Rodeo.
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The American flag is presented before the rodeo.
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Rodeo hands hold their hats over their hearts during the National Anthem.
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Spectators wait for the rodeo to begin.
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Cowboys and cowgirls enter the ring during the start of the Benton Rodeo.
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Nikki Baker tries to lasso a calf in breakaway roping.
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Cowboys prepare for the saddle bronc competition.
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Ray Hostetler competes in the saddle bronc competition.
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Ben Snell competes in the bareback bronc competition.
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Nate Powell wrestles a steer at the rodeo.
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Zack Wilson tackles a steer in the steer wrestling competition.
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Zack Wilson wrestles a steer in the steer wrestling competition.
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A rodeo hand watches steer wrestling.
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JC Fisher tries to lasso a steer in the tie-down roping competition.
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Kyle Yorks ties down a calf.
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Mark Erdos, 11, and Ryker King, 12, watch the rodeo.
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A boy peeks through the fence to see the rodeo ring.
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A cowboy hat rests in the ring after a rider lost it.
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Cowboy hats of all kinds are seen around the rodeo.
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A cowboy stretches as a young girl takes a break at the Benton Rodeo.
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Cowboys take a break in competition.
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The crowd watches the rodeo as the sun sets in Benton.
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Children compete in stick racing at the Benton Rodeo.
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A young girl carries a hobby horse in the rodeo ring during stick racing.
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Jamie Allbeck places a hat on her 8-year-old daughter Josie.
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Malia Pabolny, 9, and her cousin Phoebe Spubis, 5, shop at a vendor at the rodeo.
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Sophina Linn, 4, sits on Gus the Brahman bull for a photo as Dan Welsh looks on.
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Trent McFarlaned, “America’s most entertaining rodeo clown,” performs at the Benton Rodeo.
AIMEE DILGER