MINT HILL, NC – On April 22nd and 23rd, the Mint Hill Rodeo reopened for its 2022 season. The South Carolina High School Rodeo Association (SCHSRA) hasn’t been able to compete in Mint Hill since 2019. This year, it returned, and based on overall attendance, the residents of Mint Hill and surrounding areas couldn’t be happier.
The two days of friendly competition began with the first round of high school events on Friday night. The crowd began to gather at 6:00 pm to scope out a seat and enjoy some of the vendors that came out. Mama K’s Kettlecorn was popping all night, its salty-sweet aroma mixing in with the scent of deliciously classic chicken sandwiches that were served in the Chik-Fil-A tent. Rustic Root had a booth displaying fun country décor. There were stands featuring face-painting, light-up toys, jewelry, and official “Mint Hill Rodeo” merch. There was family-friendly entertainment in every corner. Just before sunset, everyone found their seats, and the show began!
Each round of competition began with an invocation and a performance of the Star-Spangled Banner. Between performances, audience members were entertained by the antics of rodeo clown Austin Sanders, and joined in rounds of “Cowboy Karaoke.” There was also a frisbee toss giveaway, a raffle ticket sweepstakes, and a Calf Scramble and Candy Scramble for the younger attendees. The whole weekend was a nonstop series of thrilling events.
From Bareback Riding and Steer Wrestling to Breakaway Roping and Barrel Racing, each event was filled with fun, talent, and sportsmanship. One of Friday evening’s standouts was the bull rider Eli McClain, who scored 68 points with a successful drive on his bucking steer. Another strong performance was given by MayLeigh Chapman who turned in a time of 4.412 on her breakaway roping. However, the star of the night was Dallas Cook, who came away from Friday’s night of competition as a high scorer in multiple events, including Goat Tying, Pole Bending, and Barrel Racing.
The Junior and Youth Teams also delivered strong and entertaining performances on Saturday morning. These teams included barrel racers and breakaway ropers as young as five years old who already show a lot of promise in their sport. Cowgirls Teally-Rein Gray and Maddie Nix achieved effective work in the barrels, poles, and goat-tying. Several cowboys, including Case Sellers and Logan Tessner, illustrated strong horsemanship despite their young age. In the Junior High events, the athleticism was even more impressive. Chute dogger Case Cox wrestled a steer to the ground in 2.138 seconds. Ally Farr roped and broke away a calf in a flash of 4.420. Ribbon roping team Noah Long and Campbell Ashley got their calf roped and its tail ribbon run back to the judges with a time of 13.214. Despite a few penalties that affected scores, every event illustrated both the athletic prowess and strong character of each contestant.
SCHSRA Student Body President Keely Orr says this is her favorite part about being on these teams in this sport. “Our association really prides itself on building character as well as skill,” she shared on Friday evening. “The athlete’s behavior, both in and out of the arena is taken into consideration. Even our grades are a part of it. These standards really make all our members feel like a family and keep our competition friendly and encouraging.” Orr then stopped to immediately cheer on one of her competitors, Harley McIver.
Orr says the Association is looking forward to State Finals in Clemson, SC, on Memorial Day weekend. “We get to interact with 26 competitors that come from a variety of states and countries. I think we even have cowboys and cowgirls from Hawaii and Australia this year,” she smiles. “However, the Mint Hill Rodeo is our favorite weekend of the entire year. This is where we get the largest turnout and the best crowd. We’re so excited that the Mint Hill Rodeo is back on our schedule.”
The town of Mint Hill and its Historical Society agree. They look forward to hosting this event again and again for years to come.
For more information about upcoming events and results, visit Schsrodeo.org.
