While
in rodeo mode, we went whole hog, and watched events all four days. It was quite an education and I am glad that
we have now experienced this vibrant subculture of American life.
The hardy, brawny cowboys are very much alive
and well. For most cowboys, cattle and
horse ranching is not only a way of life but their meal ticket as well,
enhanced by the chance to win a lot of money at the rodeo competitions. One such cowboy from Texas has added $3.2 million in the bank with his
winnings over the years, according to the rodeo announcer who introduced each contestant. For a few others, the rodeo circuit is simply their athletic competitive
arena and a chance to win big bucks as well. One, I recall hearing, is an
electrician by day, and rodeo cowboy on weekends.
I
discovered a whole new dimension to the word “athlete.” The rodeo cowboys are considered athletes in their own right, pitting themselves against the beasts they ride, or showing their prowess and skill at roping cattle. It reminded me of Pecos Bill, the ultimate legendary cowboy immortalized in folklore, as the bravest, the fastest, the strongest and the best. After experiencing the Ellensburg Rodeo, it is apparent that Pecos Bill continues to have a following and that even today, cowboys attempt to live up to that legendary ideal of what a real cowboy is all about.
The women seem to be the ones who excel at barrel racing, though there was one contest in which cowgirls also roped calves. This still remains very much a male dominated arena. 
Cowboys have a good sense of humor too, and are good sports to participate in the crazy event of wild cow milking. We had a few good laughs watching teams rope a galloping wild cow, attempt to hold her down and milk her, then run to the finish line and dump whatever few drops of milk they managed to squeeze into the clear bottle. A few of the wild cows were most uncooperative, and bucked wildly to try to get away. You definitely need to be strong to hold down an animal of that size.
I did wonder about the animals that are very much a part of the rodeo. It was uncomfortable to watch the calves and steer being roped and roughly brought down. A couple of calves limped away to the gate after being released. I also wondered at the practice of attaching a bucking strap around the hind quarters of the bulls and horses which cause them to buck to rid themselves of it. It's one thing if you are a horse-whispering cowboy who has a talent for taming wild horses and breaking them in, and another to force a horse to buck wildly by attaching an irritating bucking strap. After the bronco bucking event, the horses bred specifically for the event were let into the arena, and the announcer assured us that they are born to do this, love this, and are always very well cared for. I hope this is true. Many of the animals do the rodeo circuit with the cowboys, and continue on to the next competition venue around the country.
Sitting in the packed stands, I was intrigued to discover that the rodeo is very much a family event. We happened to sit next to a couple with two young children and a two-week old baby. When they bought the rodeo tickets a year ago, there was no baby on the way, and as the mother pointed out, they were not about to forgo the event, so baby came along to her first rodeo! Also in the audience was a 100-year-old gentleman who has attended every Ellensburg Rodeo since it began in 1923. Sitting beside him, was his 102-year-old sister. I noticed many multi-generational families enjoying this annual crowd-drawer. The uncharacteristic cold spell and freezing winds did not deter folks from attending. I was glad I had my gloves, hat, and a fleece blanket to keep me warm.
As part of the entertainment, there were chariot races reminiscent of Roman times. It was amusing to see these modern-day charioteers maneuver their pretty miniature horses around the arena. Those little horses are fast!
The
rodeo finals were held on Monday and the overall winners paraded around the
arena on horseback, escorted by a galloping Miss Ellensburg Rodeo 2015. Here
are a few more photos for the album of our first ever Rodeo in Ellensburg,
Washington. My red cowboy hat that I got
in Laughlin Nevada when I turned 50 and became eligible to join the Red Hat Society, came
in handy one more time. I
felt like I belonged at the Rodeo! Even if this one and probably only time.
