Preston Rash, 3, rides in the Mutton Bustin’ event at the Shrine Rodeo in Tonganoxie.

Tonganoxie ? Editor’s note: Reporter Mark Boyle takes us behind the scenes of news stories in the area. This week, he catches up with some of the youngest cowboys and cowgirls, from 3 to 7, who aren’t afraid to climb aboard a wild sheep.

The rodeo season kicked off this weekend in the area with the Shrine Rodeo in Tonganoxie. While many come to the Leavenworth County Fairgrounds for the professional stock action, others enjoy the unique rodeo-style comic entertainment.

The sport of Mutton Bustin’ is a blend of the two. Sheep have the unpredictability of bulls plus all of the adrenaline, and the sport never fails to be a crowd favorite.

“I love when the kids ride those little sheep,” said Charles Passler, who has been attending rodeos for years. “I just get a kick out of that.”

The goal is simple. Stay on the sheep as it’s let out of the gate. The contestants this year ranged in age from 3 to 7 years old. Each came prepared to hang on for dear life.

“It’s fun,” said Blake Ramsey, 4, who is already a second-year rodeo cowboy.

The cowboys and cowgirls come to the event fully decked out, too — hat, boots, protective vest, chaps and, of course, a rope.

I asked Blake, of Shawnee, what he thought the best part was. He firmly shook his head and said, “Everything.”

“It’s hard to do it,” he said.

Taylor Dickmeyer is 7 years old and has been riding for four years now. She was the only girl entered this year but didn’t seem to be fazed by riding in a seemingly otherwise male-dominated sport.

“I hold on with my arms and legs,” Taylor said as she described her Mutton Bustin’ technique.

Each of the five contestants I spoke with concluded our conversation telling me they will certainly be back next year. “I did the best job I could,” said Preston Rash, 3, who won the event with a score of 90 points.