By Zach Jensen,
Grace Zahasky ropes a calf during the American Rodeo Ladies Breakaway event at rural Decorah’s C5 Arena Saturday, Oct. 14. (submitted photo)
Rodeos aren’t only a favorite pastime in Wyoming and Texas. In fact, rodeos happen year-round across the country, and on Saturday, Oct. 14, area female riders had a chance to win $1 million through the Ladies Breakaway competition at C5 Arena, located just a few miles north of Decorah on Highway 52.
“This is a very exciting event,” said Cally Anderson, Senior Public Relations Manager for American Rodeo. “Everyday, local, hardworking cowgirls can throw their hat in the ring for a spot at The American Western Weekend’s 11th annual event – where they would be eligible to win the $1 million bonus. So, this one event in Decorah has the potential to change someone’s life.”
“Breakaway roping is a variation of calf roping in which a calf is roped but not thrown and tied,” according to online information. “It is a rodeo event that features a calf and one mounted rider. The horse and rider wait in a box next to the chute that has a spring-loaded rope, known as the barrier, stretched in front. One end of a breakaway rope barrier is looped around the calf’s neck and stretched across the open end of the box. When the calf reaches its advantage point, the barrier is released. If the roper breaks the barrier before the calf reaches its head start, the roper is assessed a 10-second penalty. The breakaway rope is tied onto the saddle horn with a nylon string. When the loop is around the calf’s neck, the roper’s horse is pulled up so the weight of the calf will make the rope tight as it snaps off of the saddle horn, thereby helping the roper receive a time from the judge.”
According to information from Anderson, rider Grace Zahasky of Cresco earned $70 for her first-round fast time of 2.55 seconds; Whitney Locken of Wis. earned $47 for her second-round fast time of 2.59 seconds; Locken also earned $70 for her first-round second-fast time; Shalee King of Utah earned $47 for her second-round second-fast time; Carm Scheider earned $55 for the fourth-best average time; Laney Lund earned $110 for the third-best average time, Kate Pasuello earned $165 for having the second-best average; and Whitney Locken earned $225 for having the top best average time. All the women on the results will continue on to compete for the $1 million, Anderson said.
Luke Carlson, the event’s producer and C5 owner, said he opened the indoor arena in October 2019 because he noticed a niche that wasn’t being filled for area riders.
“There just weren’t many arenas around,” he said. “My kids were getting to that age when they were needing to get out and ride, but riding is so seasonal around here, so we made it an indoor arena.”
Carlson clarified that the arena typically isn’t used for full-fledged rodeos; more like individual rodeo events, like the ladies’ breakaway competition. He said he does host rodeos outside during the warm months, for which he brings in bleachers, so audiences can have a place to sit.
Carlson said he likes riding and roping, because he grew up around horses, and roping is a family-friendly sport in which entire families can participate — with no age restrictions.
“I kind of grew up in a boarding barn in Hokah called the Crazy K, and my sister was riding, so I’d tag along,” said the father of three boys ages nine, 10 and 16. “I started riding when I was about 14.
“I think riding gives kids a good work ethic,” Carlson continued. “It’s not a half-hour practice or an hour practice. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication. Another thing I like about riding and roping is it’s a lifelong deal you can do till you’re 70 or 80 years old. A lot of these sports, you play through your senior year in high school, and if you’re lucky, you’ll play in college. You might have a chance to go play for someone, but for most people, all that time and effort stops after you graduate. You can keep rodeoing through the rest of your life. I enjoy working with the horses and seeing them make progress. If you get on a good horse, it’s hard to get off them.”
For more information on the C5 arena and its events, call Carlson at 563-380-3191.
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