Graduates of R.A. Long and Castle Rock high schools, along with the top all-around cowboy on the Columbia River Circuit and the defending all-around champion, will compete for a share of $35,000 in prize money at the 34th annual Thunder Mountain Pro Rodeo beginning Friday at the Cowlitz County Expo Center arena.

The rodeo features a new format with three performances spanning two days. The Thursday performance has been eliminated and is now a Saturday matinee that begins at 1 p.m. The Friday and Saturday evening performances start at 7 p.m.

More than 180 contestants have registered to compete in the Thunder Mountain Pro Rodeo, the only PRCA-sanctioned event in Southwest Washington and one of 30 events on this year’s Columbia River Circuit. The circuit is one of 12 regional divisions of the PRCA, consisting of Washington, Oregon and the Idaho panhandle (north of the Salmon River).

The circuit begins in May in Coulee City, Wash., and concludes with the finals Nov. 20-22.

During the Saturday afternoon performance, the rodeo will host the Tough Enough to Wear Pink event to raise breast cancer awareness in the community, with proceeds to benefit the local breast cancer support group “I Understand.”

Last year, several thousand dollars was raised and donated to the local support groups. Patrons and rodeo performers are encouraged to wear pink shirts to show their support, and numerous pink giveaways and raffles will be held.

Tavis Stockdale, a 1986 R.A. Long graduate now living in Portland, will compete in the team roping, and Castle Rock grad Mark Boultinghouse will make the short drive from Ridgefield to compete in the steer wrestling.

The top eight all-around competitors on the Columbia River Circuit, led by Jason Stewart of Royal City, will saddle up, as will defending Thunder Mountain all-around champ Brad Goodrich of Hermiston, Ore. Stewart has made $10,691 this year, and Goodrich pocketed $1,732 from last year’s Thunder Mountain event.

Also scheduled to compete are circuit leaders Frank McCoy of Ontario, Ore., in the saddle bronc; tie-down roper Goodrich; bull rider Joe Meling of Baker City, Ore.; and barrel racer Jana Isaac of White Swan.

Area cowboys and cowgirls also competing for prize money include Ridgefield’s Trevor Scott in steer wrestling; Jason Filla of Battle Ground in saddle bronc; Brush Prairie’s Serena Mote in barrel racing; Joe Hoffman of Chehalis in tie-down roping; and Brett Hale of Tenino in tie-down roping and team roping.

Hale is ranked fourth among the circuit cowboys in tie-down roping ($3,975).

The Thunder Mountain Pro Rodeo Committee was recently awarded the 2008 Justin Boots Best Footing Award for the Columbia River Circuit from the Women’s Professional Rodeo Association. Committee members are George Moore, Mike Monroe, Jan Searing, Debby and Bill Merz, Ron McCoy, Dannie Ritchie, Bob Covington, Chuck Ellston, Mel Boultinghouse, Vern Eaton, Cal Christensen, Les Nelson and Kim Cooper.

Featured intermission entertainment will be the Kiesner Family Wild West Revue.

Phillip Kiesner, the group’s father, is the Colorado State Champion Cowboy Mounted Shooter, older son Rider Kiesner is a trick roper, and younger son Roper has perfected Roman Riding, in which he stands with one foot on the back on each of his racing ponies’ backs while they run and jump around the arena.

Julie Kiesner, Phillip’s wife, assists the riders during the performance.

This year’s rodeo support staff includes bull fighters Donnie Griggs and Jesse Tennant, rodeo clown J.J. Harrison, and longtime announcer Steve Kenyon. The Flying Diamond Rodeo Company of Moses Lake will provide the stock.

Megan Harris is Miss Thunder Mountain Pro Rodeo. Harris, the daughter of Jim and Barb Harris, is a 2006 R.A. Long High graduate and a student at Lower Columbia College where she is studying medicine. She rides a bay gelding named Touchdown.

The 2010 Thunder Mountain Pro Rodeo Queen will be crowned during Saturday’s evening performance.

General admission tickets for the rodeo are $9 on Friday, $7 for the Saturday matinee and $10 for Saturday’s finals. Reserved seating is available for $13 on Friday, $10 for the Saturday matinee and $14 for Saturday’s finals.

Rodeo presale tickets are available in the portable offices adjacent to the food court area.