A Salado resident, Eddleman has had a passion for rodeo burning inside her for the past 25 years.
During those treks across the state and occassional trips into Oklahoma, the mother of five children travels by herself from rodeo to rodeo.
That’s why she enjoys participating in Belton’s annual Fourth of July PRCA Rodeo. It’s a chance for her family and friends to see her in action instead of hearing about it on the telephone.
“It’s really cool,” Eddleman said. “I go and I come back and they get to hear about stuff. Unless it’s actually a big enough event where it’s televised, it’s the only time they get to see me run.”
Eddleman had a disappointing run and didn’t place in barrel racing Saturday night, while no bullriders completed a ride to conclude the 85th annual Belton Fourth of July PRCA Rodeo at Bell County Expo Center.
She finished in 18.71 seconds, well behind winner Pam Deaver of Hearne, who recorded a time of 16.47 seconds Friday.
“It was terrible,” Eddleman said. “I flicked my rein on the first barrel. It was on the other side instead of between her head.”
This was her third time participating in Belton’s rodeo. Last year many of Eddleman’s family and friends were in the audience, as well as several of her Stagecoach Inn co-workers, who took off work and dressed in matching T-shirts to show support.
As an 8-year-old, Eddleman became the youngest Women’s Professional Rodeo Association rider ever to compete, running barrels.
During the summer journeys, she enjoys the company of her two daughters until school starts again. It gets tough being alone on the road, but with her love for the competition, don’t expect Eddleman to slow down anytime soon.
“The horses, the hauling, the people . . . it’s just everything,” she said.
Bullrider Chad German of Groesbeck came the closest to completing a ride Saturday, hanging on to “Lonesome Again” for about 6 seconds before being bucked off.
That gave first place to Big Spring’s Jamon Turner, a senior-to-be at Sul Ross State, who recorded an 81 on Friday. The kinesiology major pocketed $2,361.83 for his top performance. The second-place check of $2,011.93 went to Weatherford’s Cody Wood, who scored a 68 on Friday.
Pattison’s George Thomas won the $1,000 “Match of Champions” bareback riding duel, recording an 84. Hillsboro’s Jake Brown didn’t score.
No participants overtook the leaders in any of the seven events during Saturday’s finale.
Jesse James Crowder of Stephenville tied Ozona’s Dean Wadsworth for first in saddle bronc with a 73.
Colby Schneemann of Big Lake and Jed Middleton of Wolfforth held on to first place in team roping after recording a 6.1-second performance Friday. Only two of the 10 teams recorded a score Saturday.
George Rowland of Paradise won tie-down roping with a 7.8-second performance Friday. Just three of the 10 tie-down ropers scored on the final night.
Todd Andersen won steer wrestling for the second time in three years with a time of 4.2 seconds.
Ryan Stutes of Sulphur, La., easily won the bareback with an 85 from Thursday.
