News Photo by Mike Gonzalez A Flying Star Rodeo cowboy tries to hold on during the saddle bronc riding competition at the Alpena County Fairgrounds on Tuesday.

ALPENA — The Alpena County Fair held a rodeo on Tuesday with a new team, Flying Star Rodeo.

Fair Board officials say they decided to go with Flying Star instead of their usual rodeo company because the board and crowd members wanted a change in events. They said the fair has not seen bronc riding or steer wrestling in years and wanted to change it up.

Flying Star goes around Michigan and keeps audiences entertained with steer wrestling, lassoing competitions, and more. Tuesday was the group’s first time coming to Alpena, but the leader of the company performed in local rodeos before making his own.

Wally Powell, Fair Board member, said he knew Flying Star Rodeo owner, Shane Engstrom, as the rodeo clown in the 4-H rodeo when they were kids.

“When I was with 4-H, I started riding probably about 10 or 11 years old,” Powell said. “Shane was the one who was always our clown for the rodeo. I talked to him last night … he’s had his own rodeo company, now, for 33 years. He got out of doing the clown stuff because he’s getting old like the rest of us.”

News Photo by Mike Gonzalez The Flying Star Rodeo clown performs “YMCA” for the crowd at the Alpena County Fairgrounds on Tuesday.

As Engstrom continued to lead the team through the years, his ability to herd a rodeo together allowed younger people to live their dream making a living as a competitive cowboy.

Eli Hershberger is one of those lucky cowboys. He competed in the saddle bronc riding and steer wrestling competitions in Alpena’s show, and he says he’s thankful to get to live out his dream.

“Really, it’s been a dream since I was a kid,” Hershberger said as he warmed up with his horse, Pistol. “I love every minute. It’s this dream I’ve had of riding horses and just living this lifestyle. I’m able to make a living doing it. It’s my dream come true.”

Hershberger said he didn’t grow up in the lifestyle and made his big break in the rodeo scene about six years ago.

He won his competition in saddle bronc riding, but did not win steer wrestling. Hershberger attempted to take a “big leap of faith,” as the announcer said afterwards, toward the steer and narrowly missed it.

“It’s very much a competition,” Hershberger said. “It’s just making your best ride or making your best run. It gets very addicting, being better than you were the day before.”

Hundreds of county fairgoers attended the rodeo to witness the competition. Two of those audience members were Gavin Chessor and Lauren Kinsel.

Kinsel said she goes every year and usually sits on the end where the grand entry starts. This year, she decided against it, but considers going back to her usual spot next year.

“I go every year because, honestly, it’s the highlight of my year,” Kinsel said. “I love watching the horses. I love how amazing it is to see how they can manage and how long they can take. I ride horses, which, it’s a struggle, and I can’t imagine doing what they’re doing.”