MARSHALL — The Marshall Fairgrounds played host to the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Rodeo Thursday and Friday night as part of the Lyon County Fair.

Fans of everything from steer wrestling to bull riding filled the stands of the arena to the point that there wasn’t an empty seat in the house.

Kelly Kenney played the role of the announcer, sitting on horseback and keeping the audience informed while rodeo clown Allan Dessel kept fans engaged throughout the night.

In terms of riding, some of the nights events included bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding and barrel racing. One Marshall native, Courtney Otto, participated in the barrel racing event.

“If you have the courage and bravery, you can do it,” Corbin Reddings, one of the cowboys in the bull-riding competition from South Dakota, said. “I just try to clear my mind and live in the moment. There’s always some nervousness, thrill and enjoyment in as I’m going through the ride.”

Some get into the sport for thrills, others get into it for family. One competitor, Jaxson Davis, said he got started on competing in rodeos because his dad had been a part of them while he was growing up.

While most of the night’s participants were adults, the rodeo made sure to let the kids in on the fun as well. For kids under 12, there was a boot scramble — a race where they would start with one shoe, sprint down to the opposite side of the rodeo ring to grab the other and sprint back. While a few backed out after realizing they’d need to get their feet dirty to participate, dozens of children ran in the event with prizes being awarded to the top three finishers.

Steer wrestling, team roping and tie-down roping comprised the night’s wrangling events. In the steer wrestling competition, Tyler Thorson leaped off his horse and was able to pin the steer in just 4.6 seconds after getting his horse out of the gates. He described his strategy as riding to the hip of the steer before making an aggressive move.

“It feels pretty good, especially when you’re coming from a long ways away,” Thorson said. “We’re coming from North Dakota, so it always feels good to come out here and get some money.”

Toward the end of the night, the rodeo auctioned off several firearms. Among them was a Colt Python, which went for $9,000. The proceeds from the Python will be split into $100 gift cards that will be given out to veterans in need at Barrels and Arrows.

The night was also the PRCA’s Tough Enough to Wear Pink night, a charity effort that the PRCA says has raised nearly $30,000 to date.