MOSES LAKE —?The Moses Lake Jr. Rodeo Club closed out 2008 with the success of their fifth annual Buckin’ Blowout rodeo event in the Ken Ardell Pavilion Dec. 31 at the Grant County Fairgrounds.

The sold-out event helped the Moses Lake Jr. Rodeo Club raise funds for 2009 and for the local National Guard unit.

Moses Lake Jr. Rodeo Club President Lynette McMillan said the 2008 event was a success.

“It went really, really well,” she said. “We sold out — it was standing room only.”

The theme for the 2008 Buckin’ Blowout rodeo was “Red, White and Blue,” McMillan said.

“The highlight of the night was our military tribute,” she said. “The Moses Lake Jr. Rodeo Club auctioned off a red heeler puppy donated by Cathy Cox. The puppy went for $600 and all the money was donated to the Family Support Fund.”

The Family Support Fund will help assist families of the local National Guard Unit when the soldiers are deployed this month, McMillan said.

McMillan said the rodeo stock helped make the annual event a success.

“The bulls and horses bucked really well,” she said. “One cowboy was thrown 20 feet into the air.”

During the event, the Moses Lake Jr. Rodeo Club released seven chickens into the rodeo arena for the chicken scramble.

“We turned loose seven chickens,” she said. “We had 70 kids trying to round them up.”

At the conclusion of the chicken scramble, the children who managed to secure a chicken could keep the animal or trade it for a gold dollar.

“We had four kids keep the chicken,” McMillan said.

Rodeback Construction won the businessmen donkey roping event.

Buckin’ Blowout Results

Bareback Riding

• 1) Nick Gutzwiler - 85 points (Fugley)
• 2) Jesse Boys - 83 points (Con-Woman)
• 3) Brian Kurtz - 79 points (Supremo)
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Saddle Bronc Riding

• 1) Kayle Gray - 86 points (Miss Adrian)
• 2) Devin Richter - 77 points (Sadie)
• 3) Derk Robinson - 76 points (Painted Smile)
• 4) Jacob Stacy - 75 points (Houston Solution)

Bull Riding

• 1) Derk Robinson - 86 points (Time Bandit)
• 2) Shane Feekes - 80 points (Blue Northern)
• 3) Shawn Best Jr. - 79 points (Hell Fire)
• 4) Kolt Kurtchner - 77 points (White Tex)