5 REASONS to LOVE RODEO

I love rodeo.

Rodeo is a uniquely American sport that combines the glamour and big money of 21st century professional athletics with the spirit of the Old West, when cowboys tamed wild horses and herded thousands of head of cattle on the open plains.

What started as friendly contests between rival cowhands has grown into a mega-business that attracts 23 million spectators and millions more television viewers every year.

Today’s largest rodeos are week-long extravaganzas featuring a dazzling array of entertainment and thousands of dollars in prize money for international competitors. Instead of gathering around dusty corrals, fans sit in comfortable modern arenas and cheer on their favorite athletes.

5 REASONS to LOVE RODEO

1) The History

The rodeo has its roots in the daily chores of ranching, where cowboys and cowgirls

needed to demonstrate their skills in handling cattle and performing essential ranch

tasks.

Over time, these skills became a spectacle in itself, and rodeo began to be

considered a sport and a form of entertainment. Historians tell us Rodeo grew out of

the practices of Spanish ranchers and their Mexican ranch hands (vaqueros), a mixture

of cattle wrangling and bull fighting that dates back to the sixteenth-century

conquistadors.

2) The Fun

Whether you’re a superfan and follow statistics of the top-rated athletes (and talented

livestock)…or you’re new to this edge-of-your-seat sport, Rodeos are downright fun.

The rodeo has something for everyone for those between the ages of 5 and 105 can

enjoy an American sport with dazzling lights, thrilling action, real dirt and harrowing

acts of bravery.

Generally speaking, the adults in your crowd will appreciate the excitement of barrel racing and the technical skill associated with bronc riding while the kids will enjoy rodeo clowns, a petting zoo and a mechanical bull they can try their luck on. Everyone seems to enjoy the bull riding category.

3) The Unity

Since 1985, the NFR has been held at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas,

Nevada. The NFR has become Thomas & Mack Center arena's biggest client, bringing

in more than 170,000 fans during the 10-day event. The NFR has had a different

number of rounds throughout its history.

And if South Texas is closer in proximity, I encourage you to attend the Houston

Livestock Show and Rodeo each February- March.

You will join more than 2.5 million enthusiasts (2024 attendance) and enjoy original entertainment lineup with 10 new musical acts, great rodeo competitions, world-class agricultural and educational exhibits, and a wide variety of food and fun.

4) The Cowboys

Cowboys (and Cowgirls) are the featured athletes at American-style professional rodeos which generally comprise of the following events: tie-down roping, team roping, steer wrestling, Steer roping, saddle bronc riding, bareback bronc riding, bull riding and barrel racing.

The events are divided into two basic categories: the rough stock events and the timed events.

When not competing at a Rodeo, Cowboys often live on remote ranches or roam the open range, their days were filled with responsibilities, including branding, roping, and rounding up cattle.

Other jobs included maintaining and repairing fences, caring for horses, and ensuring the overall well-being of the livestock.

5) The Memories

Growing up on a dairy in Washington state, I joined my family everyday working with

livestock. But by moving to the great plains (Oklahoma) in the mid 1980s, I was

introduced to some of the most wonderful people in the world surrounding the great

sport of Rodeo.

If you seek to be surrounded by results-oriented, hardworking, values-based individuals for a day or even a week, attend a Rodeo. If you wish to fellowship with individuals who greet you with a cheerful smile, funny story and outlook of the Rodeo competition or what is happening back at the ranch, look no further than a Rodeo. I promise positive memories will be made and you will want to attend more than just one competition surrounding this legendary and very American sport.