TUCSON RODEO - DAY 4

Most of the rodeo competitions such as calf roping, and saddle bronc riding, are direct descendants of actual ranch activities, necessary for the very survival of the family business. Today's rodeo cowboys, at least the professionals who follow the circuit, are more athletic competitors than they are ranch workers. When you sit and watch a person riding a galloping horse, roping a calf, dismounting & tying the calf, all within a matter of a few seconds, you can't help but have an appreciation of the heritage, and skill of the cowboy performing that task.

Yesterday was day 4 of the Tucson Rodeo, and day 2 of the slack competition. As I mentioned previously, in a large rodeo like this, the slack days are necessary for the purpose of eliminating some of the competitors. The crowds are small, and our business is very slow, but if you like to people watch, then we have the perfect vantage point.

I focused the camera on some of the smaller folks, passing by in front of our trailer. This youngster above, was dressed to the hilt in western apparel. He had the hat, western shirt, big belt buckle, a six shooter, boots and spurs. The western, or ranch culture is something that Patty and I have had an opportunity to catch a glimpse of, at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, and here at the Tucson Rodeo. Sure, we've all seen the old western movies, in fact, when I was a 6 or 7 year old, I might have been dressed exactly like the young lad above. One of my early TV heroes was Roy Rogers, along with several other TV & movie cowboys. I'll never forget when my Grandma Alice took me to the Fresno Fair, and I met Duncan Rinaldo, who played the Cisco Kid in an early TV western series.

I don't think there's any part of our society that respects the good old fashioned work ethic any more than these folks, that have to take care of their livestock, and all that goes with running a successful ranch or farm. The rodeos around the country, give us a snapshot into the lives of the people who live this lifestyle. I often think that if everyone in our country had a little more of the western culture in their veins, we wouldn't have such a large segment of society that feels they are entitled to everything, without the work that goes along with it. For us, who have worked retail in our own business, in Alaska, and at racing events around the country, there are no better customers to deal with, than these folks here at the Tucson Rodeo.