Cowboy Breakfast draws big crowd
CHERYL SCHWEIZER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 7 years, 4 months AGO
Cheryl Schweizer/Columbia Basin Herald Barrel racers ran around the course during the Pee Wee Rodeo at the Cowboy Breakfast Friday.
Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer is a journalist with more than 30 years of experience serving small communities in the Pacific Northwest. She began her post-high-school education at Treasure Valley Community College and enerned her journalism degree at Oregon State University. After working for multiple publications, she has settled down at the Columbia Basin Herald and has been a staple of the newsroom for more than a decade. Schweizer’s dedication to her communities and profession has earned her the nickname “The Baroness of Bylines.” She covers a variety of beats including health, business and various municipalities. | August 12, 2018 9:58 PM
MOSES LAKE — It was darn warm out there, but that didn’t stop people from filling the tables at the annual Cowboy Breakfast Friday morning.
The breakfast is the traditional kickoff to the Grant County Fair and Moses Lake Roundup. The fair opens Tuesday for a five-day run, and the first rodeo performance is Thursday.
Kenzlie Melbye reigned as queen of the Little Miss Moses Lake Roundup, the ridin’ and ropin’ games for kids that have been a part of the breakfast for so long they are part of the tradition.
The breakfast is sponsored by the Moses Lake Kiwanis, with the Moses Lake Business Association and the rodeo as co-sponsors. Kiwanis volunteers – and sometimes their grandchildren – flip the pancakes, scramble the eggs and help load plates at the chow line. Dale Roth spins the tunes. Michael’s on the Lake provides the pancake batter, eggs and sausage.
Proceeds from breakfast go to Kiwanis charitable activities and scholarships.
The Pee Wee Rodeo, as it’s called, features stick-horse bucking broncos and stick-horse barrel races, roping a steer head and the queen contest. It’s for kids ages 9 and younger. The last few years boys have been running in the barrel races and girls have been roping steers.
In fact, Katrina Monson was the best roper at the Pee Wee Rodeo 2018, and Sebastian Estudillo was the fastest barrel racer. Some of the barrel racers wandered a little off course. Kenneth Pogo was the best stick-horse bronco buster. Kenneth, Sebastian and Katrina eagerly compared their trophies, and all four winners received tickets to a rodeo performance.
The queen contestants rode their stick horses around the arena, waving to the crowd, and organizer Alberta Cannon asked them questions, just like big-girl queen contestants. Kenzlie won a real crown, sash and flowers, presented by Moses Lake Roundup Queen Kindra Dokins.
ARTICLES BY CHERYL SCHWEIZER
Othello approves $29M budget for 2026
OTHELLO — The city of Othello is projected to spend about $10.1 million from its general fund in 2026, the biggest part of a $29 million overall budget. Council members approved the 2026 budget earlier this month, and city Finance Director Spencer Williams said budget planning started in late summer.
New Othello mayor, council members sworn into office.
OTHELLO — New Othello Mayor Ken Johnson and two of three new Othello City Council members were sworn in Monday during the last council meeting of 2025. Alma Carmona and Kelli Camp joined Johnson Monday for the swearing-in.
Port of Moses Lake to build electrical generation, transmission lines
MOSES LAKE — The Port of Moses Lake will start construction of electrical transmission lines between port property and Rocky Ford to the north and the port and Connell to the south. Port officials also are working to build electrical generation facilities on port property.