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Thursday May 9, 2019
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Gates County Rodeo back for 22nd year BY TRACY AGNEW EDITOR
The 22nd annual Gates County Rodeo is returning this year with something for everyone. The events take place May 10-11 at the Slo-Go Ranch. The gates open at 5 p.m. each night, and the fun gets started at 7:30 p.m. in the permanent arena. “It’s just good family fun,” said Aaron Brown, organizer of the rodeo.
“People just enjoy a part of the west. There’s a lot of rodeos out west, but back east there’s not a lot of rodeos.” Brown said there are competitors from all up and down the East Coast coming to this rodeo. The fans will drive just as far to get to one of the best rodeos east of the Mississippi. “It’s been very successful, and people drive for hours to get there to this rodeo,” Brown said.
The events in the arena will range from bull riding to team roping, in which Brown sometimes competes. That’s obviously his favorite, but everybody has their favorite event, he said. Local boy Brandon Chambers competes all over the place in bull riding but always enjoys the Gates County Rodeo. “It’s an adrenaline rush, really,” Chambers said of bull riding, which he started at 16 on a dare. “It’s
exciting every time.” Chambers said the Gates County Rodeo is special, and not just because he’s from here. “It’s one of the biggest outdoor rodeos on the East Coast,” he said. “It gets one of the largest outdoor crowds there is anywhere around here. The crowd really gets into it. The louder the crowd gets, the better the riders ride, so it’s always a good show.” There will be pony rides
Rodeo Clown Dusty Myers
Dusty Myers, from Jumpertown, Miss., has traveled the world entertaining crowds for several years now. He started at the age of 13 fighting bulls and accomplished several awards in that sport. Fast forward a few years, he changed hats in the world of rodeo. He found entertainment was a far better future
Announcer Trey Windhorst
You hear the voice, but you hardly ever see the face of the voice or ever really get to know who he is. Trey Windhorst, this year’s announcer, grew up in Louisville, Ky., and began going to rodeos at a young age. He started his rodeo career as a bull rider. After several years of riding bulls, he laid his bull rope down, picked up the microphone and began his career with his gift of gab. He graduated from Murray State University in Murray, Ky., with a bachelor’s degree in animal science. He then
went to Chad Nicholson Announcing Seminar and began perfecting his trade. Since that time, he has announced rodeos from the West Coast to the East Coast and numerous stops in between. Windhorst has won awards such as International Finals Rodeo 43 Showcase Champion Announcer. He was selected to announce the 2012, 2013 and 2014 Iowa Rodeo Cowboys Association Finals from a field of many announcers. He received the award of the 2012, 2013 and 2014 Announcer of the Year in the Midwest Cowboys
Rodeo Company. He has worked the 2012 Minnesota High School Finals Rodeo, 2009 and 2010 Kentucky High School and Junior High Finals Rodeo. Trey is a Christian and married to Amber, and they have two daughters, Olivia and Piper. They currently live on a farm in Poplar Bluff, Mo., where they raise cattle and Labrador retrievers. He enjoys playing golf, playing the drums and guitar. During the fall and winter months, he enjoys duck and dove hunting. He also enjoys a good Netflix series in his downtime.
than being run down by a 2,000-pound bull. He likes to mix old school slapstick comedy with a bit of male cheerleader to entertain audiences throughout the country. In just a couple of years, he has earned many awards in the “clowning” business. His biggest achievement was being selected “clown of the year” nine consecutive years.
and a mechanical bull for those who want to get a small taste of what the riders experience. “I feel it’s good, clean fun and entertainment,” Brown said. “You can enjoy yourself with no alcohol, and I’m pretty proud of that. All ages can enjoy this show.” His son, Austin, and daughter, Alexa, have helped him run the show over the years. Brown said he appreciates the support he has got-
ten from the community. “It’s good for the whole county,” he said. “The people in the county, I feel like they enjoy it and they’ve supported it.” There will be concessions for sale from the Reynoldson Baptist Church, the Gates Volunteer Fire Department and the Gates County High School band boosters. The 4H club from Gates County High School will hold a drawing for a picnic table, as well.
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Inside the Ring
A detailed description of rodeo events Calf Roping One of the oldest events in rodeo is calf roping, which evolved directly from work on the range and the ranch. During the annual spring roundup, calves had to be roped by a single cowboy for branding — a must on the open range — and “doctoring.” In the rodeo arena, a professional calf roper teams up with his highly conditioned quarter horse in the contest of split second timing and uncompromising teamwork between a man and animal. One misstep by either man or horse can cost the fraction of a second, which separates winners from losers in this timed event. The calves used in competition get a head start
into the rodeo arena and must trip a barrier string before the cowboy and horse can begin their chase. The cowboy who “breaks the barrier” by leaving the roping box too soon has a 10-second penalty assessed to his time. Once safely into the arena, the roper must
“catch” his calf with a 25-foot rope lariat, dismount his horse, run down the rope being held taut by his mount, drop the 300-pound calf to the arena floor, gather three of the calf’s legs, tie them together with a six-foot “piggin” string and throw up his hands to signal the
Wild Bull Riding
The ever-present element of danger in wild bull riding is exhilarating to those safely watching from the bleachers, and it is stimulating to the cowboy who is pitting his courage against the brutality of a stampeding bull. There is no other rodeo
experience more serious to those who know the risk. The riding has to be done with one hand held around the middle of the animal. There can be no knots and hitches to prevent the rope from falling free when the rider leaves. The contestant could be
disqualified for touching the bull with his free hand or for getting bucked off before the eight-second time limit. Otherwise, he will be judged by how well his performs while “tight-leggin” that ton of trouble between his legs and the ground.
end of his competition. Team roping involves one roper known as the “header” and one roper known as the “heeler.” The header ropes the steer’s horns, wraps the rope around the saddle horn and then turns the steer so the heeler can wrap the animal’s hind legs.
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Saddle Bronc Riding
Considered rodeo’s classic event, saddle bronc riding evolved from the ranch work of breaking and training horses. Many cowboys say that bronc riding is the most difficult rough-stock event to master because of its stringent technical requirements. The rider holds onto a thick rein attached to the horse’s halter and sits in a specially-made saddle. His goal is to synchronize his spurring action with the horse’s movements for eight seconds. The work starts with the first jump out of the chute, as the rider’s feet must touch the horse’s shoulders on the first jump. This is called a “mark out.” If the cowboy misses the mark, then he is disqualified and will receive a “no score”
for the ride. Attempting to place his feet over the horse’s shoulders a split second before the animal’s front feet strike the ground, the cowboy must bend his knees and finish the spurring stroke with his spurs near the back of the saddle. Finally, he snaps his feet back to the horse’s shoulders as the animal’s front feet hit the ground. Judges score the horse’s bucking action, the cowboy’s control of the horse and the cowboy’s spurring action. While striving to keep his toes turned outward, the rider spurs from the points of the horse’s shoulders to the back of the saddle. To score well, the rider must maintain that action throughout the eight-second ride.
Cowgirl’s Breakaway Roping Also a coordinated effort of horse and ride against time, cowgirl’s breakaway roping is similar to the traditional calf roping except that the cowgirls do not have to throw and tie
Wild, unpredictable and quick-moving horses give quick cowboys a run for their money in this event. Bareback bronc riders seem to crave the thrills they can get from manipulating the explosive power under their tight grip. You may even see hot flash of “rodeo fever” in the eyes of these contestants as they attempt to ride with-
the calf after catching it. Instead, the ropes are tied to the saddle horn by a heavy string in such a manner that allows it to break away from the horn when the calf reaches the end of
the rope. A white flag is tied to the end of the rope to make it easier for the field judge to see it break free. Time begins when the calf is given a head start from the chute and ends with
Bareback Bronc Riding out breaking the rules. Riding is done with a one-hand rigging, looking something like a suitcase handle, and to qualify the cowboy must have his heels over the break of the horse’s shoulders. They need to be touching the horse when the horse’s hoofs hit the ground on that first jump out of the chute. If the rider falls to his feet
in the proper position before the bucking starts, the judge’s score cards will register “zero.” The rider has to do his best to stay on the horse for eight seconds in order to earn points. If he falls off before the time limit, touches the horse with his free hand or breaks the motion of his body rhythm, the rider will be in trouble. The style of
the break of the rope from the saddle horn. A cowgirl receives no time should she break the rope from the horn by hand or touch the rope or string after the catch is made.
the contestant is important to the overall score. It may seem like an impossible task, but the rider must be able to anticipate irregular movements of the horse in order to stay on top. From the second he “marks his horse” up to the time he is helped off by the pick-up man, anything can happen — and usually does when you least expect it.
Barrel Racing
There are also cowgirls competing for prizes. Barrel racing is their “thing” at the rodeo. Barrels are placed at three points inside the arena.
The riders, their horses entering the arena at a full gallop, then maneuver their four-legged rides around the barrels and exit the arena at the same point
of entry. The rider with the best time from start to finish, hopefully without knocking over any of the barrels, is declared the winner.
Want to go? 22nd annual Gates County Rodeo Presented by Starr Motors of Suffolk Slo-Go Ranch — 158 Paige Riddick Road, Gates, N.C. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for children ages 5 to 12. Children 4 and under get in free. Parking is free. Events include bareback bronc riding, saddle bronc riding, calf roping, team roping, cowgirl barrel racing, breakaway roping and bull riding
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