Jordyn White

is a sophomore at College of Sequoias. She is the daughter of Denise White.

Miss White lives in Visalia. She enjoys horseback riding, musical theatre as well as spending time with friends and family.

Hollie Albright

is a junior at Woodlake Union High School. She is the daughter of Laurie and Matt Albright.

Miss Albright lives in Woodlake and enjoys training her dog Harlow at the Assistance Service Dog Education Center. She also swims with the Woodlake Tiger Sharks.

Matlyn Matta

is a senior at Crescent Valley Public Charter. She is the daughter of Robert and Rosalie Matta.

Miss Matta lives in Woodlake. She is learning how to play the guitar is working on training one of her dad’s horses.

Meg Johnson

is a senior at Woodlake Union High School. She is the daughter of Tod Johnson and Wendy McKellar.

Miss Johnson lives in Three Rivers. She is training her dogs at the Assistance Service Dog Education Center and enjoys horseback riding.

Sonnie Shew

is a sophomore at California State University, Fresno. She is the daughter of Dan Shew.

Miss Shew lives in Exeter. She competes in drill team competitions all over California and enjoys snow boarding with friends.

Donny Castle from Woodlake, California has always loved the sport of rodeo. At 20 years old he followed his dreams to fight bulls at rodeo and compete in free style bull fights.

Growing up in the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas Donny spent many summers packing into the back country, which he still enjoys. In his spare time he also enjoys team roping, hunting and fishing.

Tim O’Connor is a California native who was born in Exeter and raised in Springville. Tim has been surrounded by ranching and rodeo his whole life, which has sparked the passion for bullfighting that he has today. He developed his skills while watching his uncle Craig O’Connor fight bulls throughout his childhood and adolescence.

This season marks his tenth year as a member of the PRCA. Tim has been selected four times to protect the bull riders for the California Circuit Finals, in addition to many other major rodeos. His commitment to hard work and excellence pushes him to give his best to the bull riders, stock, and fans.

My road to the rodeo has always been in my life since a kid. I have been in Woodlake my entire life. They say you can leave Woodlake, but it never leaves you. I found my way back home about 15 years ago and have replanted my roots. As a kid I remember the rodeo starting with the parade then finding a ride out to the rodeo grounds. I would always see my uncle Conrad Sanchez, a former Lions member, working in one of the booths. I said to myself maybe one day I can be a Lions member, and 45 years later, here I am.

Thank you rodeo fans for continuing this great Mothers Day tradition and being annual supporters to our rodeo, without you we would not have this great event.

We can’t forget all the Moms, thank you for sharing your special day with us, Happy Mothers Day!!

Hope you all enjoy our 2012 Woodlake Lions Club Rodeo.

Thanks,
Paul Lira, President

Several of the Woodlake Lions drove out to Oklahoma last month to pick up these beautiful new chutes for the rodeo arena. They aren’t just a pretty addition. Our new bucking chutes are engineered to enhance safety for both the rider, broncs and bulls. They were funded through the generous contributions of many of our supporters.

What happened to the old chutes?

Two of the old chutes were installed at Whitney’s Wild Oak Ranch which is owned by Woodlake Lions founding member, Leonard Whitney. The photo to the right was taken during spring break when several young aspiring cowboys and cowgirls were learning about bronc riding at rodeo camp under the direction of trainer Joey Armstrong.

More than 50 years ago, Leonard helped to install these original chutes at the rodeo grounds. Over the years as a Woodlake Lions Club member and at his ranch, Leonard has been dedicated to donating his time to the rodeo and the community. We are so glad to see the chutes being used by local kids at Whitney’s Wild Oak Ranch.

Mouth Watering Choices

Come on out early to be the first in line to enjoy our world-famous deep-pit barbecue dinners ($8 each) starting at 11 a.m. We also have many other delicious choices at the concession stands including hot dogs, pizza, nachos, sno cones, snacks, candy, sodas and ice-cold Coors.

Junior Rodeo Exhibition

At 11:30 a.m. the young cowboys and cowgirls of the California Junior Cowboys Association (CJCA) will demonstrating junior rodeo events including calf riding, goat tying, mutton bustin’ and pole bending.

The CJCA provides rodeo competition for youths 19 years and younger from May to October of each year and is based at the Woodlake Lions Rodeo grounds. Read more about CJCA exhibition.

Nearly all the photos shown on our website and in our rodeo program are provided by two very talented photographers, Gene Hyder of Temple City and Trudy Johnson of Exeter.

Trudy Johnson is an experienced horsewoman and local photographer specializing in portraiture of families, children and seniors. Every year she provides stunning shots of our queen contestants, Woodlake Lions membership, rodeo committee, grand marshal as well as many candid shots at the rodeo. Visit her website at trudyjohnsonphotography.com.

Gene Hyder is a long-time rodeo photographer who travels all over the west snapping action shots of cowboys and cowgirls on the PRCA circuit. His vivid photography brings rodeo fans up close to the action in the arena. You can see more of his rodeo shots and artistic photography at Hyderphoto.smugmug.com.

The Woodlake Lions are deeply appreciative of the photography donated over many years by Trudy and Gene.

Do you have what it takes to compete in the Woodlake Lions Rodeo treacherous mountain run in the Suicide Race?

Fill out the release/entry form and bring to the pre-qualifying run Saturday, April 28, 10 a.m.

First place winner gets $500 and a buckle. Cash prizes for 2nd, 3rd and 4th places.

Read Official Rules & Regulations and get ready to race!

Each day daring skydiver Kent Lane will be kicking off the rodeo by descending from up high in the sky from a vintage biplane into the area with a huge United States flag. Welcomed by cheering fans, it’s an incredible sight to watch Ken’s precision delivery of the American flag to dozens of Woodlake Lions and volunteers who hold the flag across the area. It’s a spine-tingling and patriotic way to kick-off an American classic sport, rodeo!

Kent Lane had done more than 8,000 jumps both in competition and exhibition since 1976. Lane has competed on a national and world level winning several gold medals and overall champion cups in US Precision Freefall Championships. He is a two-time World Champion competing on the US Team and held three World Records.

Lane has performed in several high profile events such as the Olympics in the US and Seoul, Korea. He has also done skydives for NFL football games, major league baseball, Indy Car, and Nascar. Lane has even delivered pizza via air delivery to Jay Leno for halftime at the NFL Rams game aired on the Tonight Show. He is one of 100 Skydivers who descended all over downtown San Francisco to introduce T Mobile.

From China, Soviet Union (Russia), South Africa to Yugoslavia, Lane has competed all over the world. He recently participated in the world record of 400 skydivers in one formation in Thailand. Lane also skydived in the Wesley Snipes movie called Drop Zone and flew as pilot for various media and television productions.

Lane also pilots his own airplane for other skydiving teams such as the Los Angeles Sheriffs, Redbull Airforce, and Navy Seals. He also flies his own 1941 WWII fabric wing open cock pit biplane.

Justin Ayres grew up working as a cowboy on various cattle ranches in Southern Oregon and Northern California. He also competed as a bareback rider in junior rodeos.

He supported his love for racing and stunts working as a ranch hand. After years of flipping off the backs of bucking broncs, Justin mastered an incredible motocross backflip that wows and amazes rodeo fans.

Traveling with the Flying U Rodeo, Justin continues to "push the envelope of the impossible." Don’t miss his screaming motors and death-defying stunts at this year’s Woodlake Lions Rodeo!

Steve Goedert has become one of the most recognized voices, heading to the top of announcing professional rodeo and bull riding events.

Steve has a lifetime of experience working on cattle ranches in Northern California and his family’s ranch in Western Montana.

As a former United States Marine Steve Goedert will grab your attention from the beginning with his patriotic pride during the opening of any event.

If you are a life-long fan of the sport or if it is your first time celebrating the way of the west, Steve Goedert will keep you informed and entertained from start to finish.