A Mud-a-Thon and a Ranch Rodeo drew good crowds this weekend as the featured grandstand entertainment at the Lyon County Free Fair.
Across the fairgrounds in the show arena, 4-H club members showed their sheep and goats on Saturday, and the swine show and poultry show were featured on Sunday. Complete results of those judgings will be published later as space allows.
Results from the kids’ pedal tractor pull held Sunday evening were not available this morning.
A team of Reading cowboys took home first place in Sunday’s Ranch Rodeo.
The Gibson Cattle and Reed Ranch team — Jason Gibson, Jimmy Reed, Thomas Reed and Colt Massey — roped, doctored, and sorted their way to the top award, while three other Lyon County teams placed second, third, and fourth.
The Ranch Rodeo differs from a traditional rodeo, in that contestants from ranches compete in events that they perform on-the-job.
The second place team, from the Orear Ranch, was made up of Devlon Moore and Evan Wilson of Emporia, John Trear of Olpe, and Michael Henricks of Reading.
Jenkins Farms took third place with a team made up of Jake Jenkins and Jordon Jenkins of Emporia and Clayton Jenkins and Adam Wilson, both of Reading.
The Hoelting Ranch, which placed fourth, was made up of Eric Hoelting, Dustin Clark, Matt Redding and August Stueve, all of Olpe.
Truck drivers in the Mud-a-Thon came from all over eastern Kansas on Saturday to compete in a total of seven classes.
Troy Hett of Lincolnville swept first place in the Class 5 super modified, Class 6 open, and Class 7 limited divisions, while Lyon County residents TJ Heins of Olpe and Matthew Bazil and Heron Ayalam of Emporia placed within the top four in three classes.
The results were:
Class 1 Street Stock — Scott Ledford, Hamilton, first; Josh Gudde, Eureka, second; Rick Ledford, Hamilton, third; Eric Platt, Virgil, fourth.
Class 2 Super Stock — Daniel Wertzberger, Alma, first; Caleb Hastings, Auburn, second; Quinten Watts, Eureka, third; and T.J. Heins, Olpe, fourth.
Class 3 Super Street — Chris Hurla, Rossville, first; Cody Michaelis, Alma, second; Matthew Bazil, Emporia, third; Heron Ayala, Emporia, fourth.
Class 4 Modified — Shawn Hurla, Paxico, first; William Whitaker, Scranton, second; T.J. Heins, Emporia, third; Cody Michaelis, Alma, fourth.
Class 5 Super Modified — Tony Hett, Lincolnville, first; Charles Holub, Marion, second; Chris Hurla, Rossville, third; Bob Wallo, Dwight, fourth.
Class 6 Open — Troy Hett, Lincolnville, first; Chris Hurla, Rossville, second; Davee Moeller, Dwight, third; Tom Holub, Marion, fourth.
Class 7 Limited — Troy Hett, Lincolnville, first; Shawn Hurla, second; Bob Wallo, Dwight, third; Brian Teichmann, Cheney, fourth.