DAYTON - The Iowa Central Rodeo Team is taking one last ride in their home territory as they host the fifth annual - and final - Triton Stampede Rodeo.

Cowboys and cowgirls representing 13 schools from the Great Plains Region of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association, including the 25-member Iowa Central team, began competition in nine rodeo events Thursday evening at the Dayton Rodeo Arena. Participants competed in bareback, saddle bronc, bull riding, calf roping, team roping, steer wrestling, breakaway roping, barrel racing and goat tying.

Consistently wet weather Thursday made for sloppy conditions around the rodeo grounds and in the arena, but most participants didn't seem to mind getting a little dirty in an attempt to achieve the highest scores. The mud proved to be especially difficult for participants in the tie-down roping event, as it made it easy for the calves to slide away from the ropes.

"It (the mud) makes it a challenge, but it's fun," said Rodney Henry, a second-year member of the Iowa Central Rodeo Team from Clarinda.

Henry and his team roping partner, Dylan Heins, of Donnellson, were taking in the rodeo events from atop their horses as they waited for their turn in competition.

Having participated in rodeos for about five years, this is Heins' first year of competition with the Iowa Central team.

"I'm loving it so far," he said.

Henry said the goal of the team roping event is to work with a partner to catch the head of a steer while riding a horse before the other partner works to catch the two back feet.

"The team with the fastest time wins," Heins said of the scoring for team roping.

The rodeo will continue this evening beginning at 7 p.m. It is the final event hosted by the Iowa Central Rodeo Team as the program will be discontinued beginning in the 2010-2011 school year due to budget cuts.

Contact Emilie Nelson at (515) 573-2141 or enelson@messengernews.net