Most of the women competing in this year's Days of '47 Rodeo can't think of anything more thrilling than earning a living by navigating barrels atop a speedy horse.
But for some of the cowgirls, they do it because it's the only option for women who want to make rodeo their profession.
"I liked poles in high school, probably a little more than barrels, but they don't have that (in PRCA events)," said Sierra Thomas, who graduated from Roy High School last spring and now competes on Weber State University's rodeo team. Thomas had the night's second-fastest time of 13.29 seconds. "It's kind of sad. I don't really know why they don't have (other events)."
Most professional barrel racers competed in high school in all kinds of events, like pole bending, goat tying, break-away roping and even team roping. Many of those even continue to compete in those events in college, like Josie Jarvis and Marcie Jarvis, from Spanish Fork, who both helped Weber State win a national championship last month.
"I loved goat-tying and I was good at it," said Josie Jarvis, who finished fifth in the nation in goat tying. "The barrels are for sure my favorite, though."
Days of '47 Rodeo chairman Brad Harmon said he's not sure why the PRCA doesn't offer women in the WPRA the chance to compete in some of the other events, or even events that only women compete in at the high school and college level.
"I think it's just tradition," he said. He pointed out that the WPRA is part of the PWRA, which is a women's only circuit that exists mostly in Oklahoma, Texas and Arizona. "It has its following, and they have most of the events like bronc riding and bull riding."
Some of the events are modified, like allowing women to hold on with two hands in bull riding, but Harmon said it might be kind of interesting to see if something like that would catch on here.
"We'd have to have it on two separate nights," he said. "It would be like mixing the WNBA and the NBA. We wouldn't be allowed to do that."
The fact that most women prefer barrel racing, and it's always been a part of modern rodeo, is one of the reasons most cowgirls don't mind that it's their only option.
"After you grow up, barrel racing is it," said Kallee Cross, Huntsville, who also competes at Weber State University. "I'd probably breakaway (rope) if they had it."
Cross is familiar with the PWRA, but said there isn't the ability to earn a living like a woman can running barrels in the WPRA. Barrel racing is also part of the PRCA's prestigious National Finals Rodeo, which the other events are not.
"There's not much money in it, though," said Cross. "I think it'd be neat to have it for the people who are interested in it."
Maria Gee, Montana, edged Thomas for the fastest time with 13.24 seconds. The fastest time of the week so far is 20-year-old Meagan Reichert, Texas, which was 12.88 seconds.
Will Berg earned the night's high score in saddle bronc riding with a 77-point ride. James Willert finished second with a 75-point ride. It was another tough night in team roping with only three teams earning times. Matt Losee and Cody Young tied for the night's fastest time with Craig Richens and Ryan Hogan at 6 seconds.
Tie-down roping was also troubled as the fastest time of the night was 10.2 seconds.
The top score in bareback riding was posted by Bobby Mote, who earned 83 points. Jason Havens was second Saturday night with 82 points.
Glen Clark won the night's steer wrestling competition with a 3.9-second run. Seth Hadlock was second with 4.5 seconds.
The rodeo has just one performance left on Monday afternoon at 4 p.m.
E-mail: adonaldson@desnews.com