Suhana Gandhi loves cute animals.
The Vancouver 5-year-old said some of her favorite moments at the Clark County Fair were meeting bunnies and kitties, but the closest she got to any animal at the fair came Wednesday afternoon when she participated in the Mutton Bustin’ competition.
Decked out in a shirt that read “super cute,” Suhana finished with one of the 15 fastest times in the competition, earning her a spot in Wednesday night’s finals before the bull riding show.
“I love baby sheep,” Suhana said. “It was fun. They were so furry.”
It was the first time she had attempted to ride a sheep, and she was told by one of the organizers of the event to ride backward, so she did. She was one of 52 competitors performing for a few hundred people in the grandstands. The competitors all had to be at least 3 years old, weigh no more than 50 pounds and wear a helmet.
Suhana is very active, and dabbles in a few sports, said Rakhee Gandhi, Suhana’s mother.
If You Go
• What: Clark County Fair.
• When: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday. Carnival opens at noon.
• Where: 17402 N.E. Delfel Road.
• Cost: Admission: $11.25; seniors 62 and older, $9.25; kids ages 7 to 12, $8.25 ($6.25 between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. today); ages 6 and younger, free. Parking, $6; C-Tran shuttle, free from six main transfer stations; $1 discount on full gate admission with coupon from shuttle operator. Schedules at www.c-tran.com
• ERS Free Grandstand: Moto X Thrills, 2 and 7 p.m.
• Pets: Not permitted, except for service animals or those on exhibition or in competition.
• Information: www.clarkcofair.com or 360-397-6180
“I grew up watching rodeo, but never tried Mutton Bustin,’ ” Gandhi said. “I figured, ‘Let’s give it a go and see if she likes it.’ ”
Suhana wasn’t sure how long she rode the sheep, but in her estimation, it was “about five minutes.” She was a little off, of course. The top 15 finishers stayed aboard between 2 seconds and 5.53 seconds.
Kylie McMaster, 5, of Battle Ground also finished in the top 15. She decided to try Mutton Bustin’ for a second year because she likes sheep a lot. Kylie also loves animals, and was looking forward to going horseback riding and getting a corn dog after the competition.
Her least favorite part of the competition was getting tossed from the sheep.
“I didn’t like the fall,” she said. “I’m OK. I’m a tough girl.”
Blake Rosin, 4, of Brush Prairie also said his least favorite part was getting tossed from the sheep. It was his first time Mutton Bustin’ and he liked feeling how soft and fluffy his sheep, Steel Wool, was.
Blake didn’t last too long on Steel Wool, but it was long enough for his father, Justin Rosin.
“I was so nervous,” he said. “I told my wife I was more nervous watching him than while I was playing sports. I was just hoping he would hold on tight.”
Rakhee Gandhi experienced the same thing.
“I was kind of terrified,” she said. “I thought (Suhana) would get tossed off in a second. She did a lot better than I expected.”
