Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has donned his best Akubra to meet with the rising stars of rodeo in outback Queensland.
Thousands flock to the Mount Isa Mines Rodeo each year to watch cowboys and cowgirls battle it out over four days.
Ten-year-old Byron Kirk was one of the hundreds to compete at this year's event, with his goal to become a professional cowboy.
Byron easily won over Mr Albanese and the Queensland premier, even feeling confident enough to welcome Annastacia Palaszczuk with a hug.
"I know all about you, you're famous," the prime minister said to Byron.
The Mount Isa Mines Rodeo first started in 1959 and now attracts thousands of interstate visitors to the city in rural Queensland.
The rodeo has secured a further three years of funding from the state government, which will go towards a suite of categories including the Indigenous rodeo.
This year's Mount Isa rodeo is expected to generate $9.5 million for the far north Queensland region.
"Rodeo brings the bucks that can land a cowboy or cowgirl in the red dirt of Buchanan Park arena," rodeo chief executive Natalie Flecker said.
"And it brings the bucks that represent a series economic injection for the outback, and we welcome both!"
