How Rodeo Promotes Community BY TARYN CANTRELL
“It is not more bigness that should be our goal. We must attempt, rather, to bring people back to the warmth of community, to the worth of individual effort and responsibility… and of individuals working together as a community, to better their lives and their children’s future.” - ROBERT F. KENNEDY
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he world of rodeo and the word “community” go hand-inhand. With roots dating back to America’s agricultural and ranching past, rodeo has continued to pave the way for the preservation and protection of a lifestyle that is still relevant in our modern world. While modern advancements have changed the course of America’s Western Heritage, the love for this lifestyle continues to thrive through the sport of rodeo. Along with the hard work that goes into our beloved sport comes a strong sense of community. But what exactly is our favorite western past-time doing to promote this sense of community? Rodeo found its roots in the cattle industry in the American West when skills of working cowboys on the range were put to the test during competitive contests. As popularity caught on, the sport of rodeo was born into communities across the United States. Many of today’s rodeos have roots dating back to these early ranch competitions and have been kept alive by the dedicated rodeo committee’s that support them. However, no rodeo is possible without the support of its community. While the broncs and bulls are exciting to watch, eight seconds in the arena isn’t quite enough time to make a lasting societal impact on a community. Because of this, many rodeo committees throughout
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