2018 Southwest District Livestock Show and Rodeo

The calendar flipped over to February and once again, that time of year for the livestock shows.  After showing in the Parish show, we brought Benjamin to the Southwest District Livestock Show & Rodeo in Lake Charles.  We brought Clarabelle and her little bull calf, Astro, so we wouldn't have to milk Clarabelle while at the show.  The weather proved to be as it usually is for the shows - cold, wet, and grey.

On Thursday, we got Clarabelle and Astro settled into the barn with the other Jefferson Davis Parish exhibitors and families and then got her all washed up, fed, and watered.  The day wasn't over, though.  Thursday night is Exhibitor Night in which all the kids showing livestock get free tickets to the rodeo.  We always like to go.  It is Americana at its finest - an opening prayer, Old Glory being ridden into the arena by a pretty cowgirl on a horse.  Funny thing, I didn't notice a single person kneeling during the Anthem.

We like all the events, but one that stands out to me is the Calf Scramble.  This is where they turn a bunch of 4-H exhibitors loose on an arena containing 20 wild calves.  The object of the event is that the kids are to catch a calf, put a halter on it, and push, pull or drag it into a square roped off in the center of the arena.  Actually, many of the kids are the ones being dragged by the calves!  The first three exhibitors to do so win $1,000 that they are to use to purchase an animal to show next year.  Here is a photo of the first exhibitor that got an animal into the square.  Good for him!
 

The final event of the night is always bull riding.  I say it every year, "These guys are crazy."  For the life of me, I can't see what would entice someone to get on the back of a bull weighing between 1,200 - 2,000 pounds and try to ride him for 8 seconds. 

While a few ride the bulls, many get thrown into the air and into the dirt.  It is then that the equally crazy clowns save their lives by placing themselves between the fallen cowboy and the angry bull.



Benjamin had the opportunity of walking out on the arena floor during the middle of the rodeo and be recognized for his achievements showing Clarabelle.  Tricia and I were very proud!

Back when I was showing, they had what they called a "Parade of Champions" in which exhibitors got to walk out all the champion and reserve champion livestock.  I think they changed this somewhere along the line so that it is only the kids (and not the animals with them) that walk out to be recognized - probably that it made the rodeo last too long.

Before the rodeo, many of the people that attend walk across to where the animals are located with their kids and grandkids and view the animals.  We let the kids pet the livestock and talk to them about the projects.  Many adults rekindle old memories of milking cows, raising pigs, showing sheep or beef cattle and re-connect with their past.  The livestock show, while being a LOT of work, is a LOT of fun, too!

2017 District Livestock Show - Lake Charles

The morning following the Rodeo that we posted about HERE we woke up and loaded Clarabelle into the trailer and took off for Lake Charles.  It is about 41 miles to the Burton Coliseum from where we live.  Check in times for the animals was 8 a.m. until noon.  We arrived and showed the health papers and got settled on the Jeff Davis Dairy Exhibit aisle.  We met up with friends and visited.

Then it was time to get Clarabelle cleaned up for the show tomorrow.  Fortunately it wasn't as cold as in previous years, but it wasn't warm either.  As Benjamin sprayed her down with water at the wash rack, steam rose from her back.  She was shaking.

He soaped her down and then sprayed more water on her.  She didn't like it much and jumped around.

A little soap, a little scrubbing with a brush and she was clean as a whistle.

It was a beautiful day outside the barn and Benjamin found some clover for Clarabelle to munch on. Then it was time to give her fresh water and hay for the night and we headed back for home.  The show starts at 8 a.m. Saturday morning.

Benjamin showed his heifer, Clarabelle in the Burton Coliseum and the judge liked her.  Benjamin got a nice rosette ribbon.

He showed in his Jersey class and then in Showmanship.

It was a full morning of showing livestock.

They didn't release us until after the rodeo began at 8 p.m. that night, so it made for a long day.  But we visited with each other and ate BBQ burgers and then made the long drive home once we were released.

This weekend is the State Livestock Show in Gonzales, Louisiana at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center and Benjamin will be bringing Clarabelle.  I remember livestock shows when I was a boy and have many good memories of time with friends and my animals.  I'm glad that Benjamin is able to do the same and make some lasting memories.

Southwest District Livestock Show and Rodeo - 2017

Now that the Jefferson Davis Parish Livestock Show is over, it's that time of year for the Southwest District (Louisiana) Livestock Show and Rodeo held in Lake Charles, Louisiana.  The animals had to be in the barn by noon on Friday, but on Thursday night is one of the first nights of the rodeo where all exhibitors get a free ticket.  We never miss it.  Tricia, Benjamin and I attended.

We always enjoy the rodeo, I guess mainly for the fact that it is good, wholesome, family entertainment.  It begins with a prayer and is followed by the Star Spangled Banner.  There is a moving tribute to our veterans and those who sacrifice in order to preserve our freedom.

The emcee on horseback gets everyone involved as he rides around the arena, welcoming folks to the greatest show on dirt.  Then bareback gets underway as cowboys attempt to ride the bucking horse for 8 seconds.  What a rough ride!

Then team roping where one cowboy attempts to rope the calf's head and the other tries to get the rope around the calf's back legs.  That must take lots of practice.  If they got it or not, the crowd sent them out with a good handclap.

Then there is a fun event where 4-Hers take part in the Calf Scramble.  The officials take a rope and make a big square in the arena.  Calves are set free and a number of 4-Hers with halters run after the calves and attempt to put the halter around their necks.

The first three youth to pull the calves they caught into the square win $1,000 to go toward the purchase of an animal that they will show in next year's livestock show. The kids give it their all and it is quite entertaining to see them catch an animal and pull it into the square or be pulled around the arena by the calf.

Then there's the calf-roping event where a cowboy must rope a calf, jump down off his horse, run to the calf, throw it down and tie up three of its legs.  The one who does this in the least amount of time wins.

Of course there is barrel racing, but the most fun is the buddy barrel event where one barrel is set up at the end of the arena and a cowboy on a horse comes racing as fast as possible toward the barrel.  Another cowboy or cowgirl is mounted on top of the barrel and as soon as the horse turns, the one atop the barrel jumps onto the horse as they race back for the lowest time.  Sometimes the jumper falls off the horse - sometimes both fall off the horse.

Finally comes the last event - Bull Riding.  Tricia watched and commented that she felt sorry for all the cowboy's mommas that had to worry about their boys riding a crazy bucking animal.  Sometimes the cowboys were able to ride for a full 8 seconds...

Sometimes, however, they ended up in a crumpled pile on the arena floor as the huge bull angrily chased the bull fighters.

As soon as the swinging gate opens, it's on.  The bull is slinging spit, dust is flying and the rider is hanging on with everything he's got.  The bull is trying with everything he's got to get the cowboy off his back.  This is not for the faint of heart. Cowboys are pretty brave, though, and they are chasing a monetary pay-off for trying to ride this wild beast.

Not only would I not want to try to ride them, but I wouldn't want to be a bull fighter.  Look below as this bull fighter is chased by the bull to the fence.

Nope, nope, nope.  Ain't no way I'd do that.  It was thrilling watching someone else do it, though. Tomorrow the animals have to be in the barn by noon, followed by the show on Saturday morning. We'll show you some of the sights of the days in tomorrow's post.