The 2022 Luna Pioneer Rodeo featured events for competitors of a wide range of ages.
Photo credit: Quincy Orona, courtesy of Luna Rodeo

The 2022 Luna Pioneer Rodeo held July 23 drew a large crowd to the tall pines of western New Mexico for rodeo action in over a dozen events.

The rodeo, known for a good time and an afternoon cloud burst, failed to have a cloud burst this year, and the rodeo went off as scheduled.

The rodeo signature event is the wild cow ride. Nine teams competed, and the winning team was Josh, Colton and Tuddy Smart of Safford, Ariz., with a time of 57.75 seconds.

The egg toss is also another unique rodeo event, and this year, the arena was lined with over 130 teams. Two calf scrambles had the arena full of youth trying their best to grab the flag off the tail of one highly sought-after bovine.

The top little buckaroos were:

  • Bo McQueen of Luna in mutton busting;
  • Travis Barker of Springerville, Ariz., in calf riding,
  • Tuddy Smart in junior bronc and
  • Mesa Bruton of Cliff in barrel racing, ages 2-11.

Other top winners include:

  • Sienna Woods of Cliff in open barrel racing,
  • Baylee Nunn of Bosque in breakaway roping,
  • Tanner Brown of Clifton, Ariz., in bull riding,
  • Jake Kuenstler of Gila in calf roping,
  • Colt Chlarsen of Casper, Wyo., in ranch bronc,
  • Cade Lee of Datil in steer riding and
  • Kenneth Atwood of Datil and Jimmy Moreno of Lordsburg in team roping.

Top contestants in all events enjoyed cash prizes and buckles. In addition, the top team ropers boast new breast collars and knives as part of the Arcel Allsup memorial team roping.

Photos by Quincy Orona, courtesy of Luna Rodeo.

El Defensor Chieftain