A youth works in chute dogging as a rodeo clown waits to see if his assistance is needed. The Lometa FFA Junior Rodeo Parade kicked off festivities Saturday morning on Main Street.

A list of parade winners follows.

Small business: 1. Sweetie Pie Smiles of Lometa. 2. The Spotted Donkey/Gibson Brothers, Lometa. 3. Glenda’s Wagon Wheel Cafe, Lometa.

Non-profit: 1. L-M Garden Club, Lometa. 2. Hill Country Area Crime Stoppers, Marble Falls. 3. American Legion Post 116, Lometa.

Lometa ISD floats: 1. Class of 1971. 2. Junior high cheerleaders. 3. Class of 1978.

Classic cars: 1. Bluebonnet Model A Club owner Bob Ott, passenger Courtney Crain. 2. Classics at the Classic, 1936 Plymouth Sedan, owner/passenger Danny Britton. 3. 1931 Model A Roadster, owner Jim Walsh, passenger Dick Lockett, Lometa justice of the peace.

Spur Ritter gets an assist in the mutton-busting contest. Entry by individuals: 1. M.F. “Red” Kirby, World War II veteran/ Leonard Williams in a red convertible. 2. Ronnie Gerhard driving a 1989 Dodge pickup.

Special interest: 1. Lampasas Spring Ho Festival.

Leading the parade with this year’s grand marshal Robert Butler, Charles Middaugh of Lometa drove a 1953 Chevrolet two-door hardtop, owned by Middaugh and Byron Davis.

Bake sale judges were Lanetta Sprott, Rhonda Crain and Tammy Roberts.

After the parade, an all-school reunion was held with a large number in attendance. Neal Crain of the Class of 1973 called on several of his friends to start an alumni group.

Action then moved to Lometa Regional Park, where the Cowographers offered a taste of the Old West, while Roy Watson, Branden Benningfield, Donnie Bell and David Ivey entertained with lots of music.

Sheri Stone sits atop the L-M Garden and Civic Club parade float. Crain sang a song to bring back memories for his classmates.

The FFA sold barbecue plates prior the rodeo.

Lometa had a great turnout, according to Lisa VanNatta, a parade organizer.

“We will be asking our friends and neighbors to join us next year for a special day of camaraderie and entertainment for the 2011 FFA Rodeo Parade and All-School Reunion,” she said.

The theme under consideration for next year is “Christmas in July.”

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In addition to parade winners, all-around cowboys and cowgirls were named in each age group following rodeo action. A listing follows.

All-around cowgirls

Ages 8 and under: Sassy Wilson.

Ages 9-12: Hannah Osbourn.

Jett Barrett, left, prepares to show his goat who is boss in the goat-slapping competition with help from Lometa FFA'er John Brooks. Ages 13-15: Macy Martin.

Ages 16-19:L Alyssa McDonald.

All-around cowboys

Ages 8 and under: Kyle Coward.

Ages 9-12: Bobby Hawkins. Ages 13-15: Karson Kolacek. Ages 16-19: Turner McQuaide.
Shane Stone gives chute dogging his best shot.
Gibson Brothers had a float in the parade which made its way down Main Street.
Jared Knapp digs his heels in as he attempts to control a steer.
Brendan Barnett hangs on for dear life during mutton busting.