RODEO It’s a Western Thing -
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For many that reside throughout our beautiful Western landscapes, the Rodeo is a true American celebration of simpler times. It is a worldwide sport with countless associations in the U.S. alone and has emerged from history as a legendary event and way of life. From the spectacularly large belt buckles to the deafening crowds, there is nothing like a Western rodeo! Starting in the 1880s, various Wild West shows featured “cowboy tournaments” around the United States, associating the open-range practices with sporting performance. Back then, the vast countryside was run by ranchers, but the word “rodeo” was never an Americanized term. In fact, it comes from the Spanish word, meaning “to surround.” The practices of ranching stem from these early days in Spain and Portugal: herding, round-ups, cattle drives, and branding. Today, the rodeo remains a world-wide sport, popular in the USA, Australia, throughout Latin America and in the Philippines. American rodeos naturally derived from our cowboys’ standard workday. They evolved from a time when cowboys would gather at the end of cattle-driving trails and have a little friendly competition to see who the best bucking-horse rider or roper was. These contests then became regular forms of entertainment. Today’s professional rodeo cowboy is a bit different from his predecessor from the 1800s, although the traditional ideals of sportsmanship and showmanship are still valued by today’s competitors. According to the Pro Rodeo Cowboy’s Association (PRCA), “a cowboy’s standing in the sport of rodeo still depends on his skill with a rope or his ability to ride a bucking animal, his toughness in the face of setbacks, and his gratitude and humility about the success he achieves.” His standing in the rodeo community still depends on his adherence to the cowboy code, which says “a man helps his fellow competitors even when they are competing for the
By: JENNA BOLTZ
same paycheck – many cowboys loan horses and equipment to even their closest competitors – and teach what they know to younger cowboys.” Typical rodeo events include, bareback-bronc riding, calf roping, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, team roping, barrel racing, bull riding and steer roping. So whether it’s the boots and chaps, majestic beasts, or impressive athleticism, folks continue to enjoy the thrill of witnessing horse and cowboy teamwork, challenging, daring feats, and tests of true grit required to tame the wild west. Some of our favorite western rodeos include the Bigfork Summer Rodeo, Upper Yellowstone Roundup, Gem State Stampede Barrel Series in Kootenai County, ID, and of course the Cody Stampede Rodeo. Cody, Wyoming claims to be the “Rodeo Capital of the World”, beginning over one hundred years ago with William Frederick “Buffalo Bill” Cody, and his Wild West Show. Buffalo Bill quickly saw the need to preserve a part of what was soon to become civilized, and he recognized the fascination the public had for this spectator sport. The Cody Nite Rodeo is the longest running and the only nightly rodeo (June-August) in the world. Get in on the action at one of these events happening with the best cowboys around!
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About the author: Born and raised in Sheridan, Wyoming,
Jenna Boltz is a contributing writer and Chief Operating Officer for Clearwater Properties. She spent her childhood summer nights in the stands of rodeos all over Wyoming and Montana, and now she makes every effort to give her children the same exposure to one of America’s most cherished sports.
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