Two young cowgirls wait for Saturday’s performance to begin.Rodeo official Beaver Seagotta .The HiLo Pro Rodeo is a fixture of The Southern New Mexico State Fair in Las Cruces, New Mexico. It is an immensely popular celebration of Cowboy culture and ranching life. The announcer rallies the crowd to cheer for the “cowboys” and “cowgirls” in this unrehearsed explosion of animal bodies – human and horse and bull. Underlying it all is the knowledge that the risk of severe injury to animal and human hovers always above the proceedings.2025 Miss Rodeo New Mexico, Alyssa Sauter, opens the rodeo, rallying the crowd.Tonantzín Candelaria, 2025 Miss Turquoise Circuit at full gallop around the packed arena.Cindy Smith of Lovington, NM, rounds a barrel.Fallon Forbes of O’Donnell, Texas, makes a turn in her barrel race run.Bronc rider Cody Etsitty from Tempe, AZ hits the ground.Bull rider Isaac Hawkins runs to get clear while Tanner Brantley gets a lift distracting the bull.Pablo Montez catches the most dramatic ride of the night as his fellow bull riders and clown Tanner Brantley look on.One very angry bull, free of his rider, faces off against rodeo clown and “bull fighter” Josh Hernandez.
