Yippee-kayay! Cowboys and cowgirls aren’t the only ones with the chance to perform in Brent Romick Arena at the 
Steamboat Springs Pro Rodeo Series. Your young’uns can get in on the action every night as well, down to the dirt on their boots. All they have to do is join the Calf and Ram Scramble.
Just listen for the announcer to mention when to line up your children at the west end of the arena, and then get ready to cheer them on as they scurry around to grab a ribbon off the tail of a calf or ram. The Calf Scramble is for kids 6 to 12, while the Ram Scramble is for kids 5 and younger. The young ones compete just the same as the big kids, with a sheep substituted for a calf.
It’s definitely one of our most popular events,” says the rodeo series’ Charlene Mighton, adding that up to 100 kids take part in the tail-grabbing action every night. “For a lot of visitors, it’s the highlight of their trip to see their kids in the arena.”
The format is simple: kids gather in the arena, the calf or ram is released and the children then run around trying to grab the ribbon off its tail. Sometimes, it takes a few seconds and other times 10 minutes as the calves and rams twist and turn away from every outreached hand. Eventually, someone winds up with the ribbon, winning bragging rights and special prizes. And every child walks away a winner for participating.