Photo by Shane StevensonJoe Wieting wrestles his calf to the ground during the Tuesday performance of the Calf Scramble.

The Snake River Stampede Calf Scramble was held during the first and last night of the Snake River Stampede Rodeo.

During both of those nights, 20 high school students were let into the arena with 10 calves. The goal for these students was to catch and put a halter on a calf. If they catch a calf, they are each awarded $1,000 to purchase a 2016 beef heifer calf.

They must then raise the heifer for a year and show it at the Snake River Calf Scramble Beef Show the following summer. After the show, they then have the option to breed the heifer or sell it.

Six Meridian FFA members participated in the Calf Scramble during the Tuesday and Saturday performances that caught calves. Those members were Zack Davis, Cameron King, Mollie Hiscox, Joe Wieting, Siera Horton and Kayla Shubert.

Meridian FFA members Trace Beaucannon and Jordan Bettencourt participated in the Calf Scramble but did not catch calves.

Large livestock animals are expensive to purchase; the Calf Scramble gives students the opportunity to experience raising and showing a beef heifer without a high start-up expense.

Without this program, many of the competing students would struggle to cover the initial cost of buying such an animal.

Meridian FFA would like to thank the Snake River Stampede Calf Scramble Committee for putting on the event, sponsoring the cash awards and for inviting our members to compete.