Rodeo fans packed the stands at the Westmoreland Mall parking lot in Hempfield on Saturday to watch riders try to stay atop bulls for more than a few seconds and riders steer their horses around a barrel course at Live! Casino’s Pro Bulls & Barrels & Concert.

Among a few thousand people watching from inside and outside the gates of the venue were Sherry Pepock and her husband, Dan, of Greensburg, waiting for Izzy Barth, 17, of Georgetown, Beaver County, to compete in the barrel competition. Izzy is the daughter of Dan Barth, Sherry’s brother, and Kim Barth. Izzy was waiting to take her horse, Spur, into the contest. The youngster competes on the rodeo circuit and is going to continue her equestrian career at Murray State University in Murray, Ky.

A family watching from outside the gates and wishing they could get inside were Tonya and Mike Muchinski of Hempfield, with their daughters, Eli and Emily.

“I’m really liking this. It’s just like ‘Yellowstone’ on TV,” Tonya Muchinski said, referring to the Paramount series. She said they might consider returning Sunday and buying tickets to get inside the gates, since their vision of the action was limited from where they were standing.

The arena doors will reopen at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, and the show is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. Tickets are available though the axs.com/events/ website.

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