The last mutton has been busted and the last bulls and broncos have bucked at La Fiesta de Los Vaqueros. Competition ended Sunday under sunny skies at the Tucson Rodeo Grounds. More than 11,400 fans took in the action.
It wasn’t just the pros who had a memorable week.
Young competitors like Tucson’s Alastar McKenna, who has been riding steers since December, won awards of their own. McKenna captured a title in junior steer riding.
“I didn’t do mutton-busting; I went straight to steers,” McKenna said, grinning from ear to ear.
When asked what was next for McKenna, he said: “more practice.”
The Tucson local will compete riding steers next weekend in a rodeo for a jackpot prize. McKenna says he plans on riding steers for another year before he thinks about moving up to something bigger.
For pro competitors like bullrider Ky Hamilton, 22, the Tucson Rodeo is another stop on his way to a World Championship. Hamilton has been to the National Finals Rodeo before, and said he would like to qualify for another trip this year.
Saddle Bronc rider Brody Cress rides Nutrena's Killer Bee during Sunday's saddle bronc finals. Cress received a 92.0 score, a new arena record.
Hamilton grew up around the rodeo in Australia before coming to the United States at age 15. He moved stateside in 2018 to pursue rodeo full-time.
“My dad rode bulls and bucking horses. It was just something I grew up around,” Hamilton said.
Last weekend, Hamilton posted the high score for bull riding with a 90.0, landing him a spot in Sunday’s finals. He was bucked off in the final round, and did not post a qualifying score.
Bull rider Trey Kimzey rides Wolf of Wallstreet during Sunday's bullriding final. Kimzey was the only bull rider to last eight seconds.
Hamilton wasn’t deterred, though. He’ll travel to Houston on Monday morning for his next rodeo.
“Everything stays the same,” he said. “Try a little harder.”
Trey Kimzey won the bullriding event, as he was the only competitor to ride for the full eight seconds.
Photos: Final day of the 2022 Tucson Rodeo
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Saddle Bronc rider Brody Cress rides Nutrena's Killer Bee during the Saddle Bronc riding event in the final day of the 2022 La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo at Tucson Rodeo Grounds in Tucson, Ariz. on Feb. 27, 2022. Cress received a 92.0 on his ride which was a new arena record.
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Bull rider Trey Kimzey points to the sky while celebrating his 84.00 score after riding the bull Wolf of Wallstreet during the Bull riding event in the final day of the 2022 La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo at Tucson Rodeo Grounds in Tucson, Ariz. on Feb. 27, 2022. Kimzey was the only bull rider to last 8 seconds and receive a score.
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Cullen Telfer, bull rider from Plant City, Fla., tries to get away from the bull Mix'n Gas's horn after falling off Mix'n Gas during the Bull riding event in the final day of the 2022 La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo at Tucson Rodeo Grounds in Tucson, Ariz. on Feb. 27, 2022. Telfer was unable to hold on for 8 seconds and received a no score.
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Bareback rider Jess Pope rides Nutrena's Tic Tac during the Bareback riding event in the final day of the 2022 La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo at Tucson Rodeo Grounds in Tucson, Ariz. on Feb. 27, 2022. Pope won the event with a score of 90.00.
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Alastar McKenna, 10, left, steer rider from Tucson, Ariz., holds up his 2022 Tucson Rodeo Junior Steer Rider Championship belt while his dad Alexander McKenna records a video during the junior rodeo in the final day of the 2022 La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo at Tucson Rodeo Grounds in Tucson, Ariz. on Feb. 27, 2022.
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JaCauy Lathan Hale, bull rider from Ganado, Ariz., slips off the bull Moody Muley during the Bull Riding event in the final day of the 2022 La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo at Tucson Rodeo Grounds in Tucson, Ariz. on Feb. 27, 2022. Hale was unable to stay on for 8 seconds and received a no score.
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Jess Pope, bareback rider, warm-ups in the shoots before the final day of the 2022 La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo at Tucson Rodeo Grounds in Tucson, Ariz. on Feb. 27, 2022.
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The horse River Monster startles a group of cowboys and rodeo officials while getting riled up inside the shoots during the Saddle Bronc event in the final day of the 2022 La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo at Tucson Rodeo Grounds in Tucson, Ariz. on Feb. 27, 2022.
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Bull rider Trey Kimzey rides the bull Wolf of Wallstreet during the Bull riding event in the final day of the 2022 La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo at Tucson Rodeo Grounds in Tucson, Ariz. on Feb. 27, 2022.
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Cowboy Tanner Baldwin from Vail, Ariz. sticks out his tongue while getting his rope around the steer during the Team Roping event in the final day of the 2022 La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo at Tucson Rodeo Grounds in Tucson, Ariz. on Feb. 27, 2022. Baldwin and his team roping partner Nano Garza received a no score.
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Cowboys and bareback riders hangout and get ready on the shoot platform before the start of the final day of the 2022 La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo at Tucson Rodeo Grounds in Tucson, Ariz. on Feb. 27, 2022.
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Ky Hamilton, bull rider from Mackay, Aus., starts to slip off the bull Smoke Stack during the Bull riding event in the final day of the 2022 La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo at Tucson Rodeo Grounds in Tucson, Ariz. on Feb. 27, 2022. Hamilton was unable to stay on Smoke Stack for 8 seconds.
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Kolter Zerbel, 9, steer rider from Whetstone, Ariz., prepares to ride in the Steer riding event in the junior rodeo before the final day of the 2022 La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo at Tucson Rodeo Grounds in Tucson, Ariz. on Feb. 27, 2022.
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Saddle bronc rider Jake Finley from Austin, Texas falls off the horse River Monster after River Monster tripped while bucking during the Saddle Bronc event in the final day of the 2022 La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo at Tucson Rodeo Grounds in Tucson, Ariz. on Feb. 27, 2022.
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Barrel racer Steely Steiner pumps her fist while making her victory round following the Women's Barrel Racing event during in the final day of the 2022 La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo at Tucson Rodeo Grounds in Tucson, Ariz. on Feb. 27, 2022. Steiner won the Women's Barrel Racing and received a 17.23 score on Sunday's event.
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Saddle Bronc rider Brody Cress warms-up with some band work before the start of the pro events during the final day of the 2022 La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo at Tucson Rodeo Grounds in Tucson, Ariz. on Feb. 27, 2022.
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Kash DeZonia, 6, rides a sheep during the Mutton Bustin' event in the final day of the 2022 La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo at Tucson Rodeo Grounds in Tucson, Ariz. on Feb. 27, 2022. Dezonia received a high score of 98.5 for his ride.
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Manny Arzaga, 13, steer rider from Marana, Ariz., prepares his rope before his ride in the Steer Riding event during the the Jr. Rodeo in the final day of the 2022 La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo at Tucson Rodeo Grounds in Tucson, Ariz. on Feb. 27, 2022.
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Cowboy Lane Livingston gets his rope around a cafe during the Tie-Down Roping event in the final day of the 2022 La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo at Tucson Rodeo Grounds in Tucson, Ariz. on Feb. 27, 2022. Livingston placed second in Sundays Tie-Down event with a score of 8.9 but placed first in the aggregate score.
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Tarryn Lee, barrel racer from St. David, Ariz., lifts her foot to keep from hitting the barrel while making a tight turn around the second barrel during the Women's Barrel Racing event in the final day of the 2022 La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo at Tucson Rodeo Grounds in Tucson, Ariz. on Feb. 27, 2022. Lee scored a 17.32 time and was the second fastest for Sunday's Women Barrel Racing event.
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Barrel racer Steely Steiner races towards the finish line after circling the last barrel during the Women's Barrel Racing in the final day of the 2022 La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo at Tucson Rodeo Grounds in Tucson, Ariz. on Feb. 27, 2022.
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Carlos Varela Jr, 4, smiles while putting on his sheep riding helmet before the Mutton Bustin' event during in the final day of the 2022 La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo at Tucson Rodeo Grounds in Tucson, Ariz. on Feb. 27, 2022.
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Cowboy Cory Solomon flips a calf over during the Tie-Down Roping event in the final day of the 2022 La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo at Tucson Rodeo Grounds in Tucson, Ariz. on Feb. 27, 2022. Solomon scored a 9.3.
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Steer rider from Whetstone, Ariz. Kolter Zerbel, 9, stands on the shoot platform while waiting for the Steer riding event in the Jr. Rodeo during in the final day of the 2022 La Fiesta de los Vaqueros Tucson Rodeo at Tucson Rodeo Grounds in Tucson, Ariz. on Feb. 27, 2022.
