Lometa High School cowgirl Samantha Phillips urges her horse on as he sets his sights on a barrel. After months of preparation and hours of volunteer labor on the part of Lometa FFA members and adults alike, the Lometa FFA Rodeo has gone down in history as a success.

Lometa FFA adviser and agriscience instructor Brad Barnett said the three-night event averaged over 100 entrants and close to 400 spectators nightly.

In a tough drive for all-around buckles in each age group, the high turnout wrought strong competition in the events.

Garnering top rodeo honors for All-Around Cowgirl and All- Around Cowboy in the 8-and-under division were Hannah Osbourn and Ryder York, respectively.

Claiming the titles in the 9- to 12-year-old category were Jayci Padgett and Whit Kitchens, while Ryann Jameson and Karson Kolacek took the 13- to 15-yearold age group honors.

All-around titles in the 16-19 division went to Coltin Easter and Brittany Primrose.

With good showings for Thursday and Friday evening competition, Saturday was packed with new entertainment venues as well as the return of the much-loved parade. The parade had been absent from the rodeo lineup for a number of years.

Bullrider Jacob King accepts a little assistance from a fellow competitor as he prepares to take his seat on the back of a well-horned bull. Led by organizers Terri Harris and Lisa Van Netta, the parade drew entries from across Central Texas, all making a colorful trek from the Lometa School down Main Street and out U.S. Highway 183 to the Lometa Regional Park.

"They did an outstanding job of putting the parade together with over 35 floats," said Barnett of the organizers. "That's a lot of floats for such a small town.

"Our young FFA members greatly appreciated the work these seasoned rodeo supporters put into bringing the parade back to Lometa."

Parkside, rodeo-goers enjoyed a benefit barbecue for the Lometa FFA and were entertained by live music. Local youth also enjoyed the popular fishing booth provided by Central Texas Stockfish of Lometa, where for $1 kids could catch a catfish from a tank.

PHOTOS BY CHERI JAY-WIENECKE Sage Thompson, left, is happy for a little help from Central Texas Stockfish owner Lynette Carrow and Michelle DeMaio as Sage snags a fish from a tank at a booth during the Lometa FFA Rodeo. Barnett attributed much of the rodeo's success to the assistance Lometa FFA has received from Lampasas County businesses and residents.

"The help and support of the town and area has made this rodeo bigger than the last rodeos of the last two years put together," he said.

Also factoring into the well-run 2009 rodeo, Barnett said, were the upgrades made to the Bar 3 Arena by the Lampasas County Rodeo Association, including the addition of a much-needed runback chute as well as painting.

"The yearlong efforts of the Rodeo Association in upkeep and improvements to the arena have promoted long-term benefits for the Bar 3 Arena, as well as for the town, kids and park," Barnett said.

The annual rodeo -- whose proceeds fund the endeavors of the Lometa FFA members including speaking contests, agriscience fairs and stock shows -- was the recipient of numerous donations and the efforts of countless volunteers.

Over 35 floats lined up to lead the way to a benefit barbecue and the annual Lometa Rodeo. Said Barnett: "There were 20 different businesses in town and surrounding areas that helped the Lometa FFA put the rodeo on. Donations of money, buckles, and concession equipment and supplies were demonstrative of the farreaching support for the Lometa youth."

He added that without the assistance of Lometa school administrator Jamie Smart, the success of the rodeo would be tenuous. "Every year Jamie comes through for us, doing whatever is needed -- whether it be announcing the rodeo or serving as arena director. We wouldn't be able to put this rodeo on without him."

With the rodeo completed and coins in its coffers, the Lometa FFA is moving on to the upcoming year's events, which include a trip to the National FFA Convention where the state champion agriscience team of Jared Purser and Chris Scarborough will compete for the national title.