The rodeo came to our town last weekend. For the third year in a row, our farming community put on an indoor rodeo. It’s a big undertaking and much of the town’s population is involved in the event one way or another.
You can always tell when the rodeo is coming. Overnight, store windows are sporting cowboy hats and cow skulls, cactus and crocks. Denim sales must go way up at the local clothing stores, because all of us – real cow people, business people, farmers and other wannabes are sporting cowboy and cowgirl gear.
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Keeping with the spirit of the occasion, our merchants hold Rodeo Days downtown, a combination rodeo celebration and sales opportunity. This year, for fun, we had a roping demonstration on Main Street. A local young roper brought along his practice “steer,” his throwing rope and his piggin’ string and all comers had the chance to throw the rope after some individual instruction.
When we watched the rodeo performance that night, a lot of us had some extra respect for the ropers. It looks easy, but I’m here to tell you it isn’t.
Rodeo cowboys have to be some of the nicest people in the world. I’ve yet to meet one who wasn’t polite and obliging.
Before the rodeo Saturday night, I decided I wanted a close-up of the head of one of the bulls. Of course, I was outside the bars and it was impossible to get a clear shot. A cowboy sitting on the stock fence said he’d get my picture for me, and jumped down into the pen with two of the biggest, meanest bulls I’ve ever seen. He got my shot, I got my camera back and he got out of there unscathed. The bulls appeared to wonder what all the fuss was about.
I learned my second rodeo lesson of the day a little later. Picture this: eager girl (!) photographer is standing behind a stock gate waiting to take pictures of a bullride and a handsome cowboy nods at her.
For future reference, when the handsome cowboy primed to open the gate nods at you, he is not flirting, he is warning you to get your camera and yourself back because the big iron gate is going to swing your way in a matter of seconds.
I was blessed with a friendly rodeo judge who quickly but nicely explained these facts of life to me, then minutes later told me to get ready for a good picture because the next gate would be swinging the right way.
I learn fast and I won’t make that mistake again. In fact, I’m looking forward to the day when the rodeo comes to town and I can be as professional behind the scenes as the cowboys are out front.
