Community
Rodeo Weekend Sets Record for Mutton Busting Entries
Posted
The 2026 Brisket County Rodeo set a record for mutton busting entries over Labor Day weekend, with 71 young riders over three days. The previous record of 58 entries was set in 2019.
The rodeo ran Friday, September 4, through Sunday, September 6, at the Brisket County Rodeo Grounds on Rodeo Rd. The Brisket County Fair Association, which owns the grounds and runs the rodeo, estimated total attendance at 11,800.
Mutton busting by the numbers
| 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Entries | 71 (previous record: 58, in 2019) |
| Eligible ages | 4 to 7 |
| Weight limit | 55 pounds |
| Required gear | Helmet and protective vest |
| Longest ride | 7.4 seconds |
| Sheep | 14 |
Entrants were weighed at check-in by Gary from the Dongvile Post Office, who volunteered as official weigher and weighed each rider twice. The Fair Association added a second sheep pen on Saturday afternoon to keep up with demand.
Sunday’s top ride, 7.4 seconds, belonged to a 6-year-old from Tater Tot Trails who declined to be interviewed.
City support
City departments worked the rodeo alongside Fair Association volunteers:
- The Constabulary handled traffic on Rodeo Rd and Cargo Shorts Pkwy each evening.
- The Volunteer Fire Department provided medical standby at the arena.
- Public Works emptied 22 roll-off containers over the weekend and swept Rodeo Rd on Monday morning.
“Seventy-one is a lot of sheep rides,” said Councilmember Cletus Krenek, who represents the City on the Brisket County Fair Association board. “The kids rode hard, the volunteers were great, and the sheep held up very well.”
Next year’s rodeo is scheduled for Labor Day weekend, September 3–5, 2027.
Questions about the rodeo itself should go to the Brisket County Fair Association. For more information, contact the City Manager’s Office at (936) 555-0100 or citymanager@dongvile.us.