Cowboys and cowgirls toughed out muddy conditions Friday and Saturday to compete in the Clatsop County Rodeo.

Competitors from as far away as Arizona and Pennsylvania made the trek to try their hands at winning prize money on the Columbia River Circuit.

Buffalo Breath, the entertainment act, made its first stop in Oregon for a rodeo and dazzled the crowd with a depiction of a Wild-West wagon chase. Fans weathered the gray skies and occasional showers to watch the riding, roping and racing of Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association rodeo.

The timed events were highlighted Saturday night with a horse race in the team roping event. Teams coming in for the evening’s rides had to beat a time of 9.9 seconds set by Mike Fuller of Clarkston, Wash., and his partner Andy Carlson of Stanfield.

The first team out proved to be the best. Ryan Stewart of Royal City, Wash., and Josh Bruce of Jordan Valley put up a time of 6.6 seconds to walk away with the prize money.

“When it’s muddy like that, you tend to use less caution,” said Stewart.

Stewart and Bruce traveled a long road to get to Astoria, riding in Fort Dalles Days Pro Rodeo Friday and rodeos in St. Helens and Newport Saturday morning and afternoon.

“And we’re in Condon on Sunday,” said Stewart. “We’ve been to 12 rodeos in two weeks.”

The specialty act, Buffalo Breath, also had a long road to Astoria, settling in on Tuesday after a drive from Kansas.

Dan McClintock, who portrays Buffalo Breath, spent Friday afternoon preparing for the rodeo by riding through the arena and getting his horses ready for the night’s events that included a wagon splitting in two with fireworks and explosions.

“It takes the right set of horses, a lot of trust and bonding, because we’ll circle right around the wagon after it’s broken apart,” said McClintock. “I’ll give them a hug and a pat on the head after the act to settle them down. It’s a bond you get, we’re like family. I call them ‘my boys.'”

When McClintock is not entertaining crowds with his performances at rodeos around the country, he is a custom cattle grazer and fencer. Like many with an agricultural background, McClintock found he had to adjust his farming and ranching business after falling on some difficult times.

After some encouragement from a friend, McClintock created the Buffalo Breath act to supplement his income and has discovered the added perk of traveling.

“When I have the time I like to see what else a place has to offer. I think Sunday I’ll do some sightseeing, maybe go to the Maritime Museum,” said McClintock. “It was pretty getting into town and seeing how green it is.”

For others, the rodeo was just about getting aboard an animal, doing their jobs and holding on tight.

In the bareback riding, Nathan Bayes of Adrian posted a score of 75 to earn him a paycheck. Bayes drew a horse named Vegas that he had never ridden before but stuck out the eight second ride.

“My brother had ridden him before and he said he was a pretty good ride,” said Bayes.

The mud and temperamental weather didn’t seem to bother Bayes who said the ride worked out all right.

“Any time you’re winning money it worked out,” said Bayes.

Saturday also drew in fans who were out to supported the Tough Enough to Wear Pink program with half the allotted raffle tickets for each raffle being sold according to Laurie Drougie.

“I think it went well but the rain put a little damper on the crowd,” said Drougie. “If the weather had not done this we could have sold them all I think.”

Drougie said she thought the program would become part of the annual festivities.

“I was impressed by the number of people who came by with stories about their mothers, sisters, or themselves,” said Drougie. “I think it was positive for a first time event.”