The thing about discussing small-time rodeos is it involves so many of us. It is part of American, both North and South, and even Australia. I am guessing many on this forum have been to a rodeo. You see small rodeos weren't and aren't just about who is best, but the community getting together. Let's put aside how many have become underfunded and community interest is waining. Let's forget that there may be disappointing performances compared to pro rodeo. Let's reminisce about how the rodeo really started at 6 AM in the park with a Cowboy Breakfast. I was always there. Was the food anything different than you could cook at home? No, but it was just being outdoors and seeing old friends and taking in all the chatter. The idea of getting a 1/2 lb sausage patty topped with 2 eggs over-easy and watching it run into the biscuits and gravy while I blasted out some squeeze bottle ketsup over it. The guys, even those midaged, always loved the near empting bottle so they could blast out a farting sound. Farting is just part of ranch humor and cowboy poetry. We gals loved getting the fuller bottle so we could blast the backside of a cowboy with his new fresh tight Wranglers. There was little room for that big stack of pancakes soaked liberally with real butter and local huckleberry syrup, but it didn't go to waste. I would take a few bites and then one of my friends would say loudly, "You see Faye that is why you must get married. Husbands loved to finish off their wife's food." They would make such remarks when a single guy was nearby. I never had to toss any food, yet I still remained a widow. What about those boiled hot dogs for lunch? Hungry or not, I wasn't missing out on that experience. The thing about the hot dog stand is they had mustard. Nothing more fun than a full squeeze bottle of mustard. Adding a little yellow to the Mr. Tight Jeans backsides seemed to complete our artistry. I learned from one Mr. Tight Jeans years later (I was 60) when I saw him again at a rodeo that he purposely posed for our handy work and acted like he didn't notice. He bragged to the boys about how us cowgirls were madly in love with him but just too shy to admit it. While he was over talking to the other old guys about glory days, I chatted with his wife that hadn't heard the story of denim rodeo artistry and she suggested we bring back memories for him. The hot dog stand only offered those little packets but knowing the proprietor was a plus because she produced squeeze bottles of both condiments for our denim Pissaco. So now Mr. Baggy Suspender-supported jeans was totally unaware of our advanced year's rodeo artistry until several started laughing. @Yvonne Smith Maybe we should change the title of this thread to Fairs, Parades, and Rodeo. That might generate more interest. I bet several here have fun stories and experiences to share about such. This would include county and state fairs.
Waving my cowboy hat at you, @Faye Fox ! What you just described are basically MY memories of rodeos, too. Growing up, we had local rodeos at both Sandpoint and Bonners Ferry, and mainly it was local cowboys who were the contestants, so we actually knew some of them personally. We didn’t have the cowboy breakfasts (that I remember), but we definitely had the hot dog stand, with hot dogs and hamburgers and plenty of soft drinks and coffee. Since I was in the drill team, we rode in the grand entry, and performed later in the show. We also ran the hot dog stand, and it helped raise money for the drill team. All of us took turns working at the hot dog stand. We also got to ride around on our horses and help with parking cars in the right rows, which was a lot of fun , too. So, most of my memories are from personal involvement, and not so much of following contestants to see what they won. We did have the big pro-rodeo at Spokane, the Diamond Spur, which we often went to; but really I enjoyed the hometown rodeos more than the large ones. No matter what a person’s memories are, it is just good that we have those awesome memories of times past. This thread is already a pretty long one, Faye, but start another one about county fairs and parades. That is a great idea !
Bobby, I know what you are saying (can't believe I'm agreeing with you), but, when it comes to a small rodeo, contestants don't make the money like at a big/glitzy/glitter one. And, to tell you the truth, I don't know of any place that has a small rodeo anymore. Even the smallest rodeo that PRCA would sanction, is still big! And, microphones with contestants names coming over them, is a rodeo. Just how is a crowd, even a small one, suppose to know who is competing? Now, just what do you mean by "your personal values against that of another". Thing is, Bobby, I KNOW rodeo! And, on top of that, when was the last time you went to a rodeo, be it professional or whatever?
Ok, Faye, your back talking about a ranch rodeo, definitely not a PRCA one. Yes, the "good old days"! I know, I know, just how much you miss your ranch rodeos, but isn't there any where you live? They are here and we may go to one in Colorado Springs this summer. There are those "Old Timers", now either retired or passed away, that spent numerous years competing or working PRCA rodeos and they don't like the music played at rodeos today and some don't even like all of the safety gear used. And, "different colors of ropes, who would have ever thought" (some would also say).
This was such a fun story, brought back other memories I had, especially the pancake breakfast, and Wrangler jeans @Faye Fox and you really spelled out why I finally got in on the rodeo thread. I know nothing about being "in" a rodeo, but we girls that weren't, sure loved going and watching I totally agree with the name change because I know I felt a little shy to get on the thread and share. Summers were the best memories of all, and they so included the parades with lots of horses, fairs, and "see the rodeo in June". That last phrase was on our small radio station in a song about "happenings" in Roseburg Oregon.
So, what I'd like to ask you rodeo fans here, be it ranch and/or PRCA, WHY just have the memories? Go to a rodeo! We have memories, and pictures on our walls, of rodeo action going all the way back to 2000, when wife and I met. Now, do have to admit, that while living in Jacksonville, Florida for those 10 1/2 years, we only went to one rodeo. It became quite obvious to us that north and northeastern Florida definitely isn't "rodeo country". Was just another reason for us to move back here. None of us can change the way any rodeo, no matter what organization puts it on, is today. It is what it is.
Anyone interested in having a fun discussion and sharing old memories about County fairs, parades, or rodeos, please see my new thread under the Reminiicies board. We are old so why not enjoy sharing stories of a better time instead of all this unpleasantness over something that only one member is interested in? @Yvonne Smith Maybe move my new thread to a board so it would include even stories of today's County Fairs, Parades, and Rodeos and not just reminisces.
Faye, old-time rodeo is fine, but I've seen many "Old Timers" attending nowadays rodeo. And, please remember, I didn't go to my first rodeo until 1985. That was in Long Beach, CA at their indoor arena. An old girlfriend won tickets, on a country-western radio station, to go to it. I fell completely-100% in-love with rodeo after that. I'm seriously considering starting a new thread on this forum about Cheyenne Frontier Days. Parades, Pancake Breakfast, Indian Village, Cattle Drive Cooking and on and on. And, the high-paying rodeo that is there.
Actually, in most cases, no Ken. Most, if not all, contestants go to a school to learn their event. I went to a Team Roping School in Norco, CA and learned the basics (ground work on a dummy), then put the saddle/bridle on my horse and headed into the arena to learn the rest. From there, I would go to some weekend Jackpot Ropings. Jackpot is where a Team Roper gets most of the practice. Many rough stock riders will practice on a bronc or bull at a private party arena. Same will go for steer wrestling and tie-down ropers. Because the main goal, after buying a Permit to be a contestant in rodeo, is to win enough money to become a Card Holder which is full-membership. Rodeo anywhere in the U.S. and Canada. Burlington, CO is a small town, but when the PRCA rodeo is there, the stands are packed with folks from all around Burlington.
One thing we all have to remember, whether it's rodeo or anything else, the "old days" are gone (to a point). However, when we lived in So California, went to an "old days" western event, called End Of Trail. Everything dealing with this event was from the "Old West" including the clothes vendors and participants wore. SASS (Single Action Shooting Society) was even there. Talking men looking like Wyatt Earp, Kit Carson, Wild Bill Hickock, Buffalo Bill Cody, Gen. George Custer and ladies that looked like Calamity Jane and Little Miss Sure Shot (Anne Oakley. The clothes/outfits were there! Chuck Wagon cooking also.
This is true Ken, lots of people have learned in small rodeos, started it out there, probably in their own, backyards as well, very excellent point
Horse pucky!!! The majority learn basic skills in smaller rodeos and some seek out coaching from former stars, a few with no experience go to school, but that is the exception, not the rule. The idea that a majority go to a school without ever competing in a small rodeo is false.
Anyone can make any topic argumentative. If we made all topics off-limits, we wouldn't have a forum. I honestly didn't see that much arguing, I saw a lot of personal attacks on people that got sick and tired of taking it.