PRCA Rodeo

[Cody Fousnough]

Yes, professional rodeo is definitely considered "a sport". There wasn't a dedicated thread, so I wanted to start one. I'm currently watching the Calgary Stampede in Canada on The Cowboy Channel. This is one of the largest outdoor professional rodeos there is. A couple of other major rodeos are: Cheyenne Frontier Days and Pendelton Roundup. Like both of these rodeos I just mentioned, all of the Top 15 cowboys and cowgirls are in Calgary. The money to be won is extremely good.

 

[Faye Fox]

Glad to see you starting a rodeo thread. Not that anybody on here really cares, but I like to see other members sharing their passions, even if response is paltry.

Since you stated PRCA, I will only talk about bull riding happening at those events. I haven't watched the Calgary Stampede, in last few years, but certainly enjoyed seeing it in person many years ago. The PBR team bull riding is starting on the 11th, but I will keep it on the mum since no one cares, not even on the ranching forum.

I see our orthopedic clinic is again sponsoring a steer wrestler in PRCA. I forget his name, but I will try to remember it, when I visit the foot doc later this month. Is Jess Brown still steer wrestling this year? I have known him since he was in diapers and loved wrestling down the family dog. The dog seemed to enjoy it. I don't think he made the finals last year.

 

[Tony Nathanson]

Glad to see you starting a rodeo thread. Not that anybody on here really cares, but I like to see other members sharing their passions, even if response is paltry.

Since you stated PRCA, I will only talk about bull riding happening at those events. I haven't watched the Calgary Stampede, in last few years, but certainly enjoyed seeing it in person many years ago. The PBR team bull riding is starting on the 11th, but I will keep it on the mum since no one cares, not even on the ranching forum.

I see our orthopedic clinic is again sponsoring a steer wrestler in PRCA. I forget his name, but I will try to remember it, when I visit the foot doc later this month. Is Jess Brown still steer wrestling this year? I have known him since he was in diapers and loved wrestling down the family dog. The dog seemed to enjoy it. I don't think he made the finals last year.

An Orthopedic Clinic sponsoring Steer Wrestling?
There's a joke in there somewhere.

 

[Faye Fox]

An Orthopedic Clinic sponsoring Steer Wrestling?
There's a joke in there somewhere.

No joke! One of the Orthopedic doctors is an ex pro rodeo performer and then pro rodeo physician. The biggest sports fans I know are Orthopedic doctors. The highest number of sports injuries in my area, happen in High School football. Our Orthopedic clinic has two doctors that are titled Sports Medicine. "If you don't break em, we can't fix em." That was my idea for their slogan, but it was quickly rejected.

 

[Faye Fox]

Hey @Cody Fousnough Here is one of my cowboy poems, I wrote for the PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association) rodeo, the Pendleton Roundup with their moto, "Let er Buck."


Let Er Buck
by Faye

Old cowboys never die, they just run out of luck
So enjoy the ride and Let Er Buck
Come on over and see what we do
It's a low down hoe down, Eastern Oregon Buckeroo

It's rodeo time, out here in the east
Where man steps up, to ride the bucking beast
Cowboys and Indians, do what they like to do
It's low down on the ground, Eastern Oregon Buckeroo

Cowboys, Indians, and Hippies, are looking mighty dapper
Rough stock is unloaded, it's going to be a zapper
Many a Cowboy will soon, be all black and blue
It's low down on the ground, Eastern Oregon Buckeroo

Young ladies rounding barrels, toppling some they graze
Ropers raising dust, lariats swinging in a haze
Smoke rising from the pit, cooking brisket BBQ
It's low down to the ground, Eastern Oregon Buckeroo

Hot dogs, hamburgers, tap beer, all at least a ten dollar bill
Long lines, port a potty waiting, their turn to take a spill
Never mind the dust, the burn of sun, just do what you do
It's low down to the ground, Eastern Oregon Buckeroo

So get out of town, come on down, enjoy what we do
It's a low down, hoe down, Eastern Oregon Buckeroo

 

[Cody Fousnough]

The Calgary Stampede has really drawn in some big names and former World Champions. Like I already said, "Top 15", but also those contestants that are trying to get into that "Top 15" spot and make to the National Finals Rodeo in December in Las Vegas. Lots of money there to be won. As far as the contestants competing at the Calgary Stampede, we have either actually met them or do know who they are. Many are already Millionaires and have lots of sponsors on their shirts.

IOW, folks, professional rodeo, aka PRCA, isn't what it was when I was involved. Nowadays it's lots of money and lots of sponsors. Two big major ones are Dodge, of which we do have a Dodge and Wrangler Jeans, of which is the only kind of jeans we wear. Many large rodeos, like Calgary, Pendelton, Houston, CFD (Cheyenne Frontier Days) and Fort Worth are drawing in huge crowds. The Grandstands at Calgary are packed with rodeo fans.

 

[Yvonne Smith]

Back when I was growing up, Spokane had the Diamond Spur Rodeo each year, and it was the main professional rodeo in that area. They always had the top cowboys for all of the competitions, plus they had a well-known entertainer for the mid-rodeo presentation.
One year it was Gene Autry and Gail Davis, who played Annie Oakley on television, and another year it was Rex Allen. It was a long drive to Spokane, and then a long day at the rodeo, so we did not go every year, just occasionally.

Sandpoint had their own rodeo every year, and I actually enjoyed that much more than the professional one in Spokane. Our local rodeo was sponsored by the Horseman’s Association, and they let us kids help with setting everything up for the rodeo, which we all enjoyed.
We rode our horses and helped direct traffic for cars coming to watch the rodeo, or for cowboys coming in to be contestants.

Once the rodeo started, we rode in the Grand Entry, along with all of the cowboys. Since I was in the drill team, we always wore our drill outfit and rode in formation in the Grand Entry, and we also got to perform our drill routine as part of the halftime entertainment.
Sometimes, we also helped to run the hamburger and hot dog stand, and took turns helping out with that, so we teenagers were busy all day helping out with our horses.
This was me with my pinto horse that I ride in the drill team. I raised her from a colt and trained her myself.

 

[Faye Fox]

Back when I was growing up, Spokane had the Diamond Spur Rodeo each year, and it was the main professional rodeo in that area. They always had the top cowboys for all of the competitions, plus they had a well-known entertainer for the mid-rodeo presentation.
One year it was Gene Autry and Gail Davis, who played Annie Oakley on television, and another year it was Rex Allen. It was a long drive to Spokane, and then a long day at the rodeo, so we did not go every year, just occasionally.

Sandpoint had their own rodeo every year, and I actually enjoyed that much more than the professional one in Spokane. Our local rodeo was sponsored by the Horseman’s Association, and they let us kids help with setting everything up for the rodeo, which we all enjoyed.
We rode our horses and helped direct traffic for cars coming to watch the rodeo, or for cowboys coming in to be contestants.

Once the rodeo started, we rode in the Grand Entry, along with all of the cowboys. Since I was in the drill team, we always wore our drill outfit and rode in formation in the Grand Entry, and we also got to perform our drill routine as part of the halftime entertainment.
Sometimes, we also helped to run the hamburger and hot dog stand, and took turns helping out with that, so we teenagers were busy all day helping out with our horses.
This was me with my pinto horse that I ride in the drill team. I raised her from a colt and trained her myself.

View attachment 2754

That is a beautiful Pinto! Judging by her ears and general appearance, she would have made a great cow horse. One of my great aunts had a Pinto that was the best cow horse ever for roundup and sorting. I would ride her with loose reins that really worried some folks until they saw her do her thing. I seldom watched just the cattle, but watched her head and reined like I knew what I was doing.

I also enjoyed the smaller hometown rodeos much more than the big pro rodeos. My favorite part was always the chuckwagon cowboy breakfast.