SLO County Sheriff’s Rodeo:Inaugural Event

INAUGURAL INAUGURAL RodeoRodeoSLO County Sheriff's SLO County Sheriff's

By Camille DeVaul

The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Department held its inaugural Sheriff’s Rodeo on Saturday, May 14, and the community was ready for it. More than 4,000 people were in attendance.

The original plan for the sheriff’s rodeo was to debut in 2020 but had to be postponed twice due to covid restrictions, but it was well worth the wait.

“Everything went phenomenal. It was a huge success,” Commander Chad Nicholson explained.

Held in the Grandstand Arena at the Paso Robles Event Center, the rodeo was followed by a concert performance by country music duo Joe & Martina. Families and friends gathered on the rodeo grounds to dance during the concert.

“We wanted to produce a family-filled event where the community could come together and celebrate togetherness, the sport of rodeo, law enforcement, and the western way of life,” Nicholson shared.

Eight different events were held at the rodeo finals: open team roping, sort n rope, #10 roping, breakaway, sorting, barrel racing, steer wrestling, and JR team roping. Contestants competed at the SLO Sheriff’s Rodeo Qualifier event held at the RCR River Ranch Arena a few weeks prior.

Seventy-five contestants tried their hand at becoming the first to win a buckle at the inaugural rodeo. The event winners were: • Open Team Roping — Cody Mora / Dalton

Pearce • Sort N Rope — Dalton Pearce / Brinan

Varian • #10 Roping — Cody Mora / Shaylee Baxley • Breakaway — Jaycet Tweedy • Sorting — Joanie Ketchum, Ryan Pascoe,

Chad Nicholson • Barrel Race — Cheri Kelly • JR Team Roping — Noah Cervantes / Trey

White

When planning the rodeo, Nicholson wanted to create a modified timed event rodeo mixed with ranch roping, allowing more locals to join the fun.

Announcing the rodeo was Drew Stewart, who came out from Oklahoma to lend his voice. He was joined by Professional Rodeo Cowboy

Association (PRCA) music director and announcer Taveon Harlston.

As a special addition to the rodeo, two North County deputies were honored for their heroism alongside their spouses.

Nick Dreyfus, who was shot in the face in June of 2020 while responding to an active shooter call in Paso Robles, was honored along with Richard “Ted” Lehnhoff, who was shot in the leg in a shootout at the Templeton Cemetery in September of 2020.

“We honored them for their heroism through those shootings, both involved in the North County and both North County deputies,” Nicholson explained.

Plans are already in the works for next year’s rodeo, and according to Nicholson it will be even bigger and better. Attendees can expect to see the same great rodeo with some added variations and vendors.

“We want to make this an annual event, and it will be,” Nicholson said.

All proceeds for the rodeo support the Sheriff’s Advisory Foundation (SAF), which supplements the needs of law enforcement throughout the county.

Stay up to date on next year’s rodeo visit slosheriffsrodeo.com 

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