The city motto of Rockdale reads, "Great Events Happen Here", and with the conclusion of the Rockdale Fair and Rodeo event, the motto has definitely been proven accurate. Listed by the US Census Bureau as 3.1 square miles, during rodeo and fair weekend, this small Texas town is likely to have one of the largest population density figures in the state. Rockdale was founded in 1873, as a stop on the International -Great Northern Railroad line, and was named by B.F. Ackerman as she viewed the end of the railroad line from atop a rock formation overlooking the area. The Rockdale Fairgrounds features a Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame listed racetrack, dating back to the early 1900's, and is home to the birthplace of rodeo 'bulldogging', a technique first developed by Bill Pickett in Rockdale in 1903. The Milam County area has a rich history in rodeo and equestrian events, and the LSGTPA show rolled into Rockdale to provide a horsepower display for the crowd, on the historic fairgrounds horse racing track.
The Youth Class tractors were first out of the starting gate, and Jared Stephan took the win aboard his John Deere entry. Aidan Hovind, aboard his 'Yes Deere' tractor, took the second place position with the Kody Langham entry pulling to a third place finish. Lane Duncan, aboard his 'Texas T-Rex', scored a fourth place finish in a tough Youth Class field of tractors.
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Jared Stephan pulls to victory at the Rockdale Fair and Rodeo (Ashley Jesko photo)
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| Aidan Hovind pulls 'Yes Deere' downtrack at the Rockdale Fair and Rodeo tractor pull. (Ashley Jesko photo) |
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| Lane Duncan jockeys the 'Texas T-Rex', at the historic Rockdale Fairgrounds racetrack (Ashley Jesko photo) |
The Stock Class title belt was taken by Garin Mason, aboard his belt drive Sears Super Suburban tractor. Steve McCarley pulled to a second place finish, with Alton Degner anchoring the third place position. Chris Harper placed fourth and Claude Lewis Sr. managed a top five finish. Curtis Phelps and Skeet Degner rounded out the Stock Class pulling field. In the Big Stock Class, it was Chancy Williams with the 'win', John Aufdenkamp with the 'place', and Connie Jesko for the 'show' finish positions.
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| Garin Mason drives to a first place finish at the Rockdale LSGTPA event. (Ashley Jesko photo) |
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| Chancy Williams pulls to a win at the Rockdale Fair and Rodeo (Ashley Jesko photo) |
Stock Altered tractors were led by Alex Jesko, with Garin Mason pulling to second place. Michael Mayberry and his 'Pulling For Peanuts' entry, pulled to third place with John Aufdenkamp finishing in the fourth spot. The Super Stock win was taken by Ken Langham, aboard his alcohol burning Cub Cadet, with Chancy Williams finishing in the runner-up position. The Motorcycle Class title belonged to Steve Pierce, after the dust settled, with Todd Hickerson placing second.
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| Connie Jesko pulls at the Rockdale Fair and Rodeo LSGTPA event. (Ashley Jesko photo) |
The entertaining Outlaw Class tractors took center stage, with Ken Langham, Sr. pulling out the victory. John Aufdenkamp, aboard 'Three Of A Kind' pulled to a second place finish, with Todd Hickerson finishing third. The Mini Rod Class tractors thrilled the crowd with a close battle, with Sarah Moody piloting her '99% Moody' turbocharged diesel, to the victory. Jerry Toland and his 'Shinin Time' tractor, pulled to a runner-up finish, with Colby Crowe and his 'Weekend Warrior' finishing the weekend in third.
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| Steve Pierce aboard 'Buzzards Roost' at the Rockdale Fairgrounds (Ashley Jesko photo) |
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| Sarah Moody and the '99% Moody' John Deere at the Rockdale LSGTPA event. (Ashley Jesko photo) |
The wild Super Rod Tractors closed the show, with a victory scoring performance by Sam Carroll and his 'PawPaws Pull Toy' tractor. Jerry Toland finished second, aboard his 'Dodge This' tractor, with Donny Mayo pulling to a top three finish aboard his 'Blackfoot Squaw' tractor. Randall Moody and his 'Ridge Runner' tractor pulled to fourth and the 'ScatCat' tractor of Tyler McCarley turned in a top five finish.
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| Jerry Toland aboard 'Dodge This' at the Rockdale Fair and Rodeo |
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| Sam Carroll and his 'PawPaws Pull Toy' on the front stretch at Rockdale |
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