There’s No Rodeo without Rodeo Stock
Submitted by Rod Cool, Lake Chelan Rodeo Production Manager
Don’t miss the Lake Chelan Rodeo this Friday and Saturday, August 3 &4 at the Rustler’s Arena. Gates open at 5 pm each night and the show starts at 7:30 pm. Pre-sale tickets are available at the Chelan Shell Station. It’s the same price at the gate, but you can bypass the lines at the ticket booth.
We thought you would enjoy learning more about some of the contributors to the annual rodeo. Meet Mel Layton and Mark McMillian – providers of the bulls and bucking horses that will test the mettle of cowboys at this year’s rodeo.
Bulls & Broncs
Mel Layton and Mark McMillan have been partners in the rodeo business for over 20 years. They pride themselves on bringing you the best rodeo performance possible every time a chute cracks at rodeo arenas all over the Northwest. So, after the Grand Entry has left the arena, The Anthem played, the Cowboy’s Prayer said, and that first chute cracks at the Lake Chelan Rodeo 2018, they are responsible for the keeping you on the edge of your seat. From April through October they provide rodeo stock for 18 to 20 rodeo and each of them bring something special to the arena.
Mel Layton makes his home in Elk, Washington with his wife Susie. Bulls have been a passion of his since he was a young man. Mel competed in the bull riding for a number of years and now, to stay involved in the sport, he has been buying and raising bucking bulls of his own. Bucking the bulls on Thursday nights at his home helps Mel weed out the bulls that don’t buck and keep only the ones with potential. Mel has received many awards from the Pro-West for bucking bull of the year over the years. Mel also has many bulls that he has sent up to the PBR ranks that have made it to the PBR finals in Las Vegas. When Mel Layton brings bulls to a rodeo you can be sure that you will be getting some of the best in the northwest. Mel’s passion shines through.
Mark McMillan, his wife Lynette, and their 10 children, Caleb, Riley, Hanna, Nick, Davey, Josh, Zane, Josie, Landon, and Ace; reside in Soap Lake, Washington where they raise bucking horses. Mark came through the ranks of rodeo riding bucking horses. Now he is focusing his attention on raising them. He started out buying saddle horses that were bucking people off and now has over 40 brood mares raising his future bucking horses. His whole family is involved in the operation and all take pride in the horses and how they buck. They have earned multiple Pro-West Saddle Bronc and Bareback Horse of the Year awards. They strive to have a nice set of bareback horses and broncs that the cowboys like to ride and please the crowd as well. The McMillan’s pride and love of their bucking horses can be seen in the way the horses look and perform.
When you bring Layton and McMillan together, you are getting the best of both worlds—Rank Bulls and Outstanding Bucking Horses. . Rodeo is their passion and well has their livelihood and they want to do everything they can to ensure the future of the sport. They will give you their best every time—Guaranteed.
