The skies were grey, clouds shrouded the mountains, and it rained during most of the Mission Mountain Rodeo, held July 26 and 27 at the Polson Fairgrounds.

There were rare breaks and glimpses of blue sky, but many locals, being the stalwart, weather-resistant people they are, still turned out to support the rodeo produced by Polson Fairgrounds Inc., a local group.

The rain couldn’t drown the smells of grilling hamburgers and popcorn wafting from the concession stand. Coffee and hot cocoa were definitely the top sellers for warming up insides and hands.

Kids events, including stick-horse races, calf scramble and mutton bustin’, began at 6 p.m. Pouring rain made the arena soupy on Saturday night, but the pint-sized cowboys and cowgirls did not give up.

During the calf scramble, kids could collect some “cold hard cash” in a ziplock bag taped to the calves’ tails. Quite a few shoes, boots and crocs stuck in the arena gumbo and had to be hunted down afterward.

The regular performance started at 7 p.m. with women circling the arena with the American and Montana flags. Adaleigh Whealon sang the national anthem, and announcer Robert Toavs said a prayer for the U.S., the contestants and the crowd.

Events were the usual ones — bareback broncs, tie-down roping, saddle broncs, steer wrestling, team roping, ladies and junior barrels, ladies and junior breakaway roping and bull riding.

Local contestants Kane McAllister, Ronan, placed second in saddle bronc riding; Craig Bagnell, Polson, earned first in calf roping; the duo of Herb Harris and Josh Harris, Ronan, placed fifth in team roping; and Paige Johnson, Polson, claimed fifth in break-away roping.

    A cowgirl and her grey horse head into the second barrel during Friday night's Mission Mountain NRA rodeo at the Polson Fairgrounds. (Berl Tiskus/Leader)