Bustin’ some mutton

By RACHEL HERGETT Chronicle Staff Writer

Mutant Mutton, Sheep Tick, Wooly Bully, Rock Bottom and 16 other sheep had their day in the ring Thursday, taking on 40 4 to 8-year-olds in the Gallatin County Fair 2008 Mutton Bustin’ competition.

KRISTA MILLER-LARSON/CHRONICLE Kody Dale Gunderson of Belgrade holds on for the ride during Mutton Bustin’ Thursday night at the Gallatin County Fairgrounds. Max Schumacher, 7, looked ready for the task, sporting a pair of chaps and a “I do my own stunts” shirt. Still, he looked wary, eyeing the sheep as his dad, Jim Schumacher, adjusted his hockey helmet.

“He’s a determined pro this year,” Jim said.

Mutton Bustin’ is often done at rodeos, but because the Ranch Rodeo is so full the fair does it as a separate event.

“It gives kids the opportunity to experience the rodeo life,” Lori Hoppe, the Belgrade FFA advisor said.

Hoppe coordinates the annual FFA fundraiser each year, but feels bad she has to turn people away.

“We were filled up by last Monday,” she said.

Kids must be at least 4 years old and weigh no more than 60 pounds “for the health of the sheep,” according to Hoppe.

Kenedy Sacry, 7, said she wanted to be a cowgirl or a princess when she grows up. However, despite spending part of the afternoon buying new boots to complement her “Everybody loves a cowgirl” shirt and blonde pigtail braids, Kenedy could not be convinced to step into the chutes and get on the back of a waiting sheep.

“She wants to ride the sheep, but she’s too scared to ride the sheep,” mom Josie Sacry explained.

Kenedy took comfort in her grandmother, Marlene Smith, who dried Kenedy’s tears and then passed off her number and helmet to let another little girl ride the sheep in her place.

“I didn’t know if she would and it’s too bad,” Smith said. “She was so excited.”

The whole family turned out to watch Kenedy ride, but said they weren’t too disappointed because the event itself was so much fun. Still, it would have been better to see Kenedy ride a sheep.

“She’s so freakin’ tough,” aunt McKenzie Sacry said, explaining why she thought her niece would be able to participate. “She beats up her brother all the time.”

Others took the challenge head on.

Isaiah Pehringer, 5, was tossed around by his sheep, landing in a mess of mud and mutton before the buzzer could sound. But, after he was untangled from his ride and another sheep waiting to go back to his pen, Isaiah jumped right up to give the clowns a high-five.

“It went straight to the gate and my back hit it,” Isaiah said.

His dad, Gordon Pehringer, explained that watching his son hit the rail and then get trampled by his sheep wasn’t too bad.

“I used to ride bulls, so I’m used to it,” he said.

Of the 40 kids, 15 made it past the six second qualifying buzzer according to judge Warren Greydanus. From there, points were given for style and actions from the sheep, and deducted if the kid was hanging off its side.

“I judge on what the sheep does and how well they ride him,” Greydanus said.

In the end, Bode Spring, 6, took the whole thing, scoring 76 points on a sheep named Batman.

“I thought I was going to lose,” he said after accepting his first place fair rosette and silver 2008 wool rider champion belt buckle.

Bode said he had been practicing for the event by riding his horse Shorty bareback. The sheep as a little different from the horse, though.

“It was really small,” he said.

Rachel Hergett can be reached at rhergett@dailychronicle.com or 582-2603.

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