GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The three-day Clay County PRCA Rodeo proved to be another wild ride in the Cattlemen’s Arena at the Clay County Fairgrounds.

Cowboys and cowgirls rode, roped and survived bucking animals for two full shows on Friday and Saturday, followed by a special day of bull riding and barrel racing on Sunday afternoon. And by any measure, Clay County proved again to be wildly enthusiastic.

“I would definitely say it was a success,” said JC Kitaif ProRodeos General Manager Jade Kitaif. “We were sold out on Saturday and that was a good first year with the Sunday performance. We probably had 1,000 people on Sunday.”

The response to the rodeo during the first two years prompted Kitaif to add a rare third day. After adding more vendors and pre-rodeo games and exhibits this year, she said she has bigger plans when the rodeo returns on Sept. 3-5.

“We will continue to do that and see how much it grows,” Kitaif said. “We added a lot more fun stuff to the vendor portion. And we had the pre-rodeo exhibitions. The trick riders go out there and do some stuff. It was a kind of small-scale Wild West show. I really love that. I want to grow on that.”

The main event, however, was the rodeo. Results went toward the Southeastern Pro Rodeo standings. With only two events remaining, cowboys and cowgirls were trying to secure a spot among the top 12 in each category. The Professional Cowboys Association has 12 regional circuits in the United States, Canada and Mexico, with the Southeast Region operating in Florida, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North and South Carolina and Tennessee.

The top four finishers in the Southeastern Final will advance to the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas from Dec. 3-12.

Winners from Friday and Saturday night's events were Ryan Lewis of Hineston, Louisiana, who won steer wrestling; Keven Daniel of Franklin, Tennessee, and Parker Carbajal of New Smyrna Beach, who won tea roping; Keene Justesen of Kissimmee, who won saddle bronc riding; Colt Papy of Ocala, who won tie-down roping; and Chloe Gray of Yatesville, Georgia, who won barrel racing.

Sunday’s bull riding didn’t count toward the national rodeo standings, but riders were competing for a share of the $3,500 purse. Although all eight were given two chances to stay aboard a feisty bull for eight seconds, none made it to the final buzzer.

“The bulls definitely won the day,” Kitaif said.