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Green Valley Farm hosts rodeo

| 31 May 2017 | 11:17
    Cowboy Austin Beaty of Bedford, Virginia keeps his grip as he rides a big snotty bull in the bull riding event.
    Cowboy Austin Beaty of Bedford, Virginia keeps his grip as he rides a big snotty bull in the bull riding event.
    An angry horse carries it's rider towards the camera during the bareback riding event.
    An angry horse carries it's rider towards the camera during the bareback riding event.
    John Leinaweaver of Orrtanna, Pennsylvania participating in the bull riding event.
    John Leinaweaver of Orrtanna, Pennsylvania participating in the bull riding event.
    On the move in the tie-down roping event.
    On the move in the tie-down roping event.
    A cowgirl and her horse move fast in the barrel racing event.
    A cowgirl and her horse move fast in the barrel racing event.

By George Leroy Hunter
WANTAGE — Green Valley Farms Sixth Annual Professional Rodeo took place on Saturday, May 27, at the farmstead owned and operated by Duce and Joy Tallamy.
A good sized chunk of the 250 acre spread was turned into a parking lot. Rodeo fans from Sussex County and the surrounding region arrived not only for the rodeo show but also the food. The aroma of beef brisket and pork sizzling on the grill enticed appetites. The meat was supplied by Green Valley Farms pasture raised cattle.
Franklin Sussex Auto Mall was a major sponsor at this years rodeo. The Sussex, based auto dealer had several of the latest American build pickup trucks on display and supplied a truck to move around equipment for the rodeo. TSC Tractor Supply Company and Mountain Creek and Campbell Supply Company of Sussex County were among many other area sponsors of the event.
The rodeo started at 1 p.m. but crowds began arriving two hours earlier. The event ran until about 4 p.m.
In one of the pastures was a regulation sized rodeo arena. The competition area sat in a bowl-like section of the property. Spectators had a perfect view of the action due to the higher elevation looking down. Rodeo fans were spread out on blankets and folding chairs. Others watched from the big barn area on the hill.
Barrel racing, bull riding, team roping and bareback riding were some of the scheduled events that kept the crowd excited.
The youngest competitor at the event was seven year old cowgirl Jaycee Leinaweaver of Orrtanna, Pennsylvania. Her parents are champion rodeo competitors. Leinaweaver rode her horse "Bunny" in the barrel racing event. She did not win but showed skill and competence and made the crowd cheer.
Despite the risk to the rodeo competitors the action at Green Valley Farms provided a family fun filled Memorial Day weekend afternoon.
Green Valley Farms owner Duce Tallamy said, "We'd like to thank everybody for coming to our rodeo this year. We thank the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association competitors for coming to compete. We had a record turnout of contestants this year. We do this for the community. It's a family run event and our extended family is involved. We plan on doing it again next Memorial Day weekend."
Information about Green Valley Farms products and hours of operation can be found online at http://greenvalleyfarms.us/