Rodeo

Hey y'all! Listen up....I got something to share!

I don't even know where to begin. I feel like I just came off a several week vacation...a working vacation. But for those who know me know that I'm able to find fun anywhere. I make the best of everything. I've never met a project that I couldn't piece together. I've never thrown up my hands and said, "Oh man....no way!"

So a couple months ago I walked into the office of an organization that I had been affiliated with for a few years. I asked if there could possibly be a need for me in the facility on a regular basis but that wouldn't interfere with my first passion-my Christian newspaper. After a few encouraging conversations I found myself in the midst of a huge project. I was to find sponsors for the biggest rodeo in Ohio (and the fourth largest this side of the Mississippi) to raise funding for the organization that I represented. Now I know what you westerners are saying..."OHIO?" Yeah...we do have rodeos and I helped make it happen. But at first I thought, "A rodeo? How am I ever going to be able to sell this? How can I sell something that I know nothing about? And just between you and me...I really didn't want to know anything about this testosterone laden way of life. Eventually chuckles and giggles ran rampant as some of us tried to understand. We would sneak around and fill each other in with the jargon and lingo and the ever present cowbonics. And we grinned. We met people utterly filled with the passion of this extreme sport as they shared with us the stories of broken bones, concussions and untold serious ailments they will have to endure until their last breath. Unless miracles happen. I believe in miracles. I’ve seen a few in my days. I know I’ll see more. But these cowboys….all for the glory of the ride. An 8-second ride on a bull or a bronc could alter their entire life.

Jumping from a horse and landing on a steer and wrestling it to its side?
What are these cowboys thinking?
It’s crazy.
A dozen years or more have passed since these cowboy’s last rides
but the passion remains.

The spark in their eyes won’t dim until they set their boots by their bed

and their cowboy hat on the bedpost for the last time.

So yeah, my interest flamed. It became all consuming. All I did was eat, breathe, talk and plan rodeo from the early morning hours until the early morning hours of the next day….with nearly 2 weeks averaging 3-4 hours of sleep each night. There were so many people to touch base with all the time so we weren’t doubling up on duties. Communication was key in this project because there were so many aspects that needed covered. And then I could talk about obstacles…but I think I’ll pass. You know who you are.

So rodeo week arrived all too quickly. We weren’t ready. We had so much yet to do. But the rodeo waits for no one. It was time to buck up and roll with it. And we did.

The arena was well on the way to being ready and the horse trailers started moving in along with the vendors and sponsors and more stock and more rodeo people and wham! Friday afternoon was here! At precisely 4pm the gates opened. People started filling the place and although a couple cloud bursts drifted through it was good for an opening night.

We had a challenged rodeo and many disabled people in our community got to participate in rodeo activities. Their smiles as they got to play and when they received their cowboy hats were so heartwarming.

Each night we had “Wild Thang” Tim Leppard and The Ghost Riders.

This was a little creepy for me but the crowd seemed to like it.

Click here if interested.

The Cowboy Mounted Shooters were very entertaining.

Monte Stueve is a fantastic Master of Ceremonies!

and De Wayne Spaw is an excellent Nashville Entertainer.

Click here for info on him!

Add to this a few hours of Bareback Bronc riding

---I don't think there is a saddle there...is there?

Saddle Bronc Riding, Steer Wrestling,

Calf Roping, Team Roping, Cowgirl Barrel Racing and Extreme Bull Riding

and you have a rodeo.

Saturday night was amazing! This was Breast Cancer Awareness night and the stands were filled. I putzed around in a golf cart with a very happy man I refer to as "the brains behinds the bulls" as he breathed a sigh of relief that maybe this project was going to work out after all.

Sure we made mistakes but more importantly we have learned from them. This was not for the weak. This was for the strong and there are many people who stepped up to the bull and rode for way more then 8 seconds.

Cowboy church went off without a hitch..(pun intended) and 25-30 people decided to join us. It was a blessing to have organized it. Kinda like a "if you do it they will come" type feeling. Thanks!

On Sunday mom's curiosity got the best of her and she came to find out what all the hoopla was all about. She had to find out what her daughter had been working so hard on and what was making her smile and giggle again. Her first rodeo ever! How sweet!

We had a couple security situations that were of top importance until resolution was found. Scary stuff for me...but all turned out fine. I am so proud to have been a part of this project. I will keep in my heart many of the new friendships I’ve found and although I can't wait for Rodeo 2010 NO BULL......I hope to see many of you many times between now and then.

Shish kabobs and barley pop in the early morning air? You betcha! But you know why? To continue on toward the goal of ending homelessness in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. Well, my friends...that's part of it.

Well it's bulls and blood
It's dust and mud
It's the roar of a Sunday crowd
It's the white in his knuckles
The gold in the buckle
He'll win the next go 'round
It's boots and chaps
It's cowboy hats
It's spurs and latigo
It's the ropes and the reins
And the joy and the pain
And they call the thing rodeo

~~G. Brooks

Special hugs to Ms. Dana for cowgirling me up! You're the very best, my friend!

Hugs, Happiness, Harmony and a big ole Yeeeeehaw!

Julie Rose