MOSES LAKE - Calf roping is tough.

With some help, Noah Carlile twirled the lariat over his head in preparation for roping that calf, actually a stylized head on a steel frame. But that rope is darned tricky to manipulate - on his first try the only thing Noah caught was his cowboy hat.

Well, the cowpoke's life isn't easy, but at least the grub was good. The Cowboy Breakfast was held Friday morning in Sinkiuse Square. It's the traditional kickoff for the Moses Lake Roundup Rodeo and the Grant County Fair which begins Tuesday.

It's sponsored by the Moses Lake chapter of Kiwanis, the Moses Lake Business Association, the rodeo association and Michael's on the Lake.

Event chair Tom Heath estimated the crowd at about 300 people. Proceeds from the breakfast go to support Kiwanis activities. Michael's provides the pancake batter, eggs and sausage, and Kiwanis volunteers do the cooking.

"This has been going on for well over 30 years," Heath said. The menu includes a traditional cowboy breakfast of pancakes, eggs, sausage and coffee, plus plenty of conversation. "We kind of get all walks of people," Heath said.

"This is an event for families," he said, and among the festivities is the Pee Wee Roundup, rodeo-inspired games for children.

Boys had a chance to rope a steer head and ride a stick horse bucking bronc. Girls had their own stick horse barrel race and the Little Miss Moses Lake Roundup Queen contest.

Heath said it would be a few days before he knew how much money was generated through the breakfast. The money helps pay for a number of Kiwanis projects including dictionaries for Moses Lake third graders and sponsoring the Key Club at Moses Lake High School.