Paradise resident Bronson Burbach rode his first rodeo in high school.

“That’s what everyone was doing,” he said, “and I didn’t want to be left out.”

The Colorado native began his career roping, but quickly decided the lasso wasn’t for him. Instead, Burbach turned to another sport: bareback riding.

“All my buddies were riding bucking horses,” he said. “Then they quit but I kept doing it.”

Burbach has made the Colorado professional circuit finals three times. If he makes it, this will be his first trip to the Montana finals. Burbach is fairly confident he’ll qualify. Before the Sanders County Fair PRCA Rodeo — one of the final competitions of the season — Burbach sat in 10th place overall. The top 12 qualify for state finals.

“It’s looking pretty good,” he said. “But you just never know.”

Though Burbach didn’t finish in the money, he scored a 74 this weekend.

When he isn’t riding, Burbach is working with his father in Paradise working on a new subdivision. Burbach was one of only a handful of local riders who took the saddle in last week’s rodeo.

The Sanders County Fair hosted the PRCA rodeo Friday and Saturday night, which included roping, bronc and bull riding, and barrel racing. The fairgrounds also hosted a junior rodeo and a seperate bull-riding event.

Several local residents participated in “mutton-bustin.” Young riders tried to keep a grip on their sheep as long as possible. Lucas and Gage Furhman of Thompson Falls (ages 7 and 5 respectively) weren’t able to hold on for the prize, but their mom, Cheri Fuhrman, said they were ready to go again as soon as they slipped off.

“Oh, they loved it,” she said. “They were saying they needed a re-ride because they saw some of the bull-riders get some.”

It was the brothers’ first time in the junior rodeo, but Fuhrman said it probably wouldn’t be the last.

“Lucas said he wants to go back and ride the (mini-)bulls next time,” she added.

Maybe they’ll even grow up to ride broncs. Despite several knee injuries and a two-year break, Burbach said he can’t stay away from riding.

“It’s hard to get the adreniline rush out of your system,” he said. After years of competition, Burbach explained, “it’s still an adreniline rush. Every horse is different. You never know what’s going to happen.”