Small Town Rodeo

We live in a town that has a population of about 12,000 people.  It's plenty big for us.  Driving through town the other day, we saw on the town marquee that the Rodeo was coming to town on Friday and Saturday night at the Jeff Davis Parish Fairground Arena.  What fun!  We had gone to it before and had a good time, so we decided that we'd go again.  It is put on by the Cajun Rodeo Association.  

We arrived shortly after seven and the rodeo started at 7:30.  The stands were packed with people!  BBQ pits were stoked and the concession stands had burgers, fries and other goodies.  We took our seats and got ready for the greatest show on dirt.  The announcer had everyone stand and take off their hats and led us all in prayer, thanking God for the freedom that we enjoy.  We remained standing for the grand opening as Old Glory was paraded in on a white horse.  Proud Americans stood for their flag and their country.  Patriotism is far from dead.

Then the events started.  Ranch Style Bronc Riding and then tie-down roping.

Then there was Chute Dogging, Breakaway Roping, and Barrel Racing and Buddy Barrel Pickup.

Then they called all the young kids out of the stands for an event called "Mutton Busting."  They had sheep in the chute with a rope around their backs.  Kids would mount the sheep, they'd open the gates and the sheep would dart out of there with the kids hanging on for dear life!

This young man lost his cowboy hat but won the event.  The clowns raced to catch him, but he needed no help.  He was in it to win it!

Some fell off the bucking sheep, but they quickly dusted themselves off and got back up.

Two and a half hours later they got ready for the final event.  Bull Riding!  I find it interesting that a banner advertising our slaughterhouse is on the chute.

The chute was opened and out came the cowboy on a bucking bull.  He rode it for eight seconds!  The clowns bravely distracted the bull while the cowboy safely jumped over the fence.

There were plenty of young people involved, guaranteeing that this fun will be passed down to future generations.  We drove home grateful for a fun evening of country-style entertainment.

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.