Riders competed for thousands of dollars in prize money and a shot at qualifying for the BFI Open Team Roping during the Oct. 9 free rodeo at the Morongo Indian Reservation.
MORONGO INDIAN RESERVATION, CALIF. – Amateur and professional ropers and riders competed for cash prizes at the 8th Annual Morongo Open Ranch Rodeo, a free, family-friendly event held on Saturday, October 9 at the Morongo Indian Reservation.
For the third year, the rodeo included a qualifying event for the Bob Feist Invitational (BFI) Open Team Roping, commonly known as ‘’The Feist,” the largest one-day annual open roping event in the country held in Reno.
Erich Rogers, World Champion Team Ropers at the 2017 National Finals Rodeo, described the Morongo Rodeo is a fantastic event, adding “The Open Ranch Rodeo at Morongo is an opportunity to see some of the best of the best ropers and riders in action alongside up-and-coming rodeo stars and youth riders.”
Throughout the day, rides and ropers vied for custom buckles and thousands in prize money in numerous ranching events, including team roping, barrel racing, breakaway roping, followed by Calcutta and the BFI Opening Ranch Roping Qualifier in the evening.
Younger competitors participated in youth barrel racing, mutton busting and steer riding events.
“Morongo’s annual rodeo is always a fun, family-friendly event that celebrates our rich history and welcomes riders and ropers of all ages and skill levels to compete,” said Morongo Tribal Council Member Brian Lugo, the rodeo president. “It’s an awesome opportunity to watch professional ropers and riders in action as well as future rodeo stars and youth riders.”
The rodeo is sponsored by the Morongo Band of Mission Indians and the Morongo Cultural Heritage Department.
Professional team ropers Derrick Begay of Arizona and Colter Todd compete at the Morongo Open Ranch Rodeo 
Allie Hallam of Norco competes in barrel racing at the Morongo Open Ranch Rodeo 
Sutton Locket of Visalia tries his hand at mutton-busting at the Morongo Open Ranch Rodeo 
Spencer Mitchell of Williams, CA., Cody Mora of Pasa Robles and John Chavez of Santa Maria chase down a calf at the Morongo Open Ranch Rodeo