Fort Collins nine-year-olds Cade Nelson, 9, left, and Ben Bottom, compete in the Steamboat OktoberWest Cow PIE Challenge pie eating contest. Family-friendly events accompanied the beer drinking at the second annual event.Kindergartners graduate from Christian Heritage School.Soda Creek Elementary School fifth graders Danny LaPointe, far left, and Justin Miller, far right, lead a pack of first graders during the school’s Pumpkin Fun Run. The event was organized by physical education teacher Chris Adams to promote fitness.Wild West Air Fest emcee Mike Forney looks up at a smiley face written in the sky above Steamboat Springs Airport by skywriter Steve Oliver, who calls Steamboat home.Tyler Boyer, 11, says goodbye to his steer Leonard after it was sold during the Junior Livestock Sale at the Routt County Fairgrounds. (Awarded Best of Show by Colorado Press Association)Graduates, from right, Alicia Hall, Justine Bedell, Desiray Barnes and Chelsea Fry exchange flowers during the graduation ceremony at Hayden High School. There were 27 graduates in this year’s class.Steamboat Springs Winter Carnival fireworks are launched Feb. 12, 2022, above Howelsen Hill.Skiers and riders at Steamboat Resort were first introduced to safety dog Powder as a puppy in summer 2017 with owner Duncan Draper, a ski patrol supervisor.
