PUEBLO, Colo.—Desarae O’Neal couldn’t wait for this year’s Colorado State Fair to begin.
“I wanted the Fair to come because I wanted to do Mutton Bustin’ again,” said the blonde-haired, blue-eyed 6-year-old. “I was waiting a whole year to do it again. I wanted to win the $1,000.”
On Labor Day, Desarae, daughter of Michael and Regina O’Neal of rural Pueblo County, won the $1,000 savings bond, a shiny belt buckle and the title of champion of the 2009 Colorado State Fair Mutton Bustin’ competition.
“I couldn’t believe I won,” said the Beulah Elementary first-grader as her eyes widened. “I wanted to go to California because I’ve never been there. Now I get to go.”
As the champion of the 11-day Fair’s annual Mutton Bustin’ competition, Desarae has qualified to compete in the world finals Oct. 18 at the Big Fresno Fair in Fresno, Calif. Mutton Bustin’ is similar to rodeo’s bull riding, except the participants are 6 years old or younger, weigh less than 60 pounds and must stay on the sheep’s back for at least six seconds.
The popular event is put on at the State Fair by Pueblo promoter Tommy Giodone. It annually attracts hundreds of pint-sized contestants competing for a belt buckle and a chance to compete at the world championships.
Desarae, who rode her first sheep at age 3, has been eyeing a shot at the world championships for a year since she missed the chance to win the state title in 2008, when she failed to compete in the finals.
“She qualified for the finals, but she was watching the competition and there were a lot of sheep flipping over and she got scared and didn’t want to compete,” said Mrs. O’Neal.
Since then, Desarae has been determined to redeem herself by winning the State Fair title and competing at the worlds.
In fact, right after last year’s Fair, the O’Neals bought a couple of sheep for Desarae to practice with at home.
“The one thing it really did was help her to become more comfortable around sheep,” O’Neal said. “She practiced all year.”
At this year’s Fair, Desarae went out on her first go-round and took second-place.
The winners from each of four competitions held daily throughout the 11-day Fair advanced to the finals, which were held on Sept. 7.
Determined to win a place at the finals, Desarae entered a second round and easily won.
“Even after she qualified, she still kept on practicing,” O’Neal said. “I think she rode about four or five more times out there before the finals.”
Desarae said she breezed through the first go-round and then won the finals with a score of 83.
“It was easy,” she said, looking out from under her black cowboy hat. “I just kind of hang on to the hair real tight and look down at the hair. Sometimes I close my eyes.”
Desarae said all the practice helped her confidence.
“I knew I could do good because I know what to do now. I rode a lot of sheep,” she said. “Now I get to ride one more time in California.”
In an effort to give Desarae a shot at the world finals, her family is seeking donations to help defray travel costs.
