|
Traveling
the ‘rodeo road’ recently took me from Texas
through Colorado, Wyoming and Montana.
Saw many friends, met new ones, and have great
memories, in spite of the unusual heat and treacherous
fires.
The first stop was the induction at the
ProRodeo Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs.
Six worthy cowboys, and one worthy cowgirl
became the 2003 ‘class of Honorees’;
Cecil Cornish, age 93, with over forty years as
a contract performer, which included his trick horse,
Smoky, and more, Nancy Sheppard, a black haired beauty, who began her trick
riding and roping at age 9 and continued for
twenty-two years from coast to coast,
Steve Duhon, steer wrestler from Louisiana, who
became 1985 Rookie of the Year, and went on to win
three World Titles, plus two NFR averages and the
record steer wrestling time of 3.0 in 1986, which
wasn’t matched until 2001,
Dennis Reiners, of Minnesota, won
the Saddle Bronc World Championship in 1970, qualified
for the National Finals nine years in saddle bronc and
bareback, winning the National Finals average in
bareback in 1965 and in 1973 won the saddle bronc
average, Mike
Cervi, who was voted Stock Contractor of the Year in
1983 and 2001, purchased the Beutler Brothers Rodeo
Company in 1957 and the Billy Minick Rodeo Company in
1974, making the Cervi Championship Rodeo Company a
top contender for the best stock each year,
Todd Whatley, who died in 1966, was World
Champion All Around Cowboy and World Champion Steer
Wrestler in 1947 and World Champion Bull Rider in
1953, and served on the PRCA Board of Directors as a
representative in several events,
Dee Pickett, of Idaho, after becoming PRCA
Resistol Rookie of the Year in 1978, and although he
shattered a wrist that kept him from the All-Around
title in 1981, came back and won it in 1984, plus was
World Co-Champion Team Roper with partner, Mike Beers,
that year. The
San Antonio Livestock Show & Rodeo was also
honored at the ceremony.
Eighteen beautiful rodeo queens, including Lori
Bortner, Miss Rodeo America, assisted Pat Hildebrand
and Commissioner Steve Hatchell, of PRCA during the
festivities.
My next stop was the 85th Crow Fair
and All Indian Rodeo, held at the Crow Agency, near
Hardin, Montana.
This area is known as the Teepee Capital of the
World, and at least 1,500 Indians made their homes in
their teepees during the four day event.
I saw Glenn and Minnie Fritzler there and
learned that the area in which they camped was handed
down from Minnie’s grandfather, White Man Runs Him,
from the Yellowtail Clan.
Each day began with a parade through the
village of many of those participating, all wearing
their traditional costumes, some that were passed down
through many generations. Some rode horseback, others rode in convertibles or floats.
The rodeo began in the afternoon with 386
contestants competing in twelve different events,
including the Century Team Roping (the two ropers’
ages had to total 100). Cowboys and cowgirls came from thirteen states, and Canada.
Between events, horse races and Indian Relays
were held.
During the evening the dancing was held in the
Arbor area, an arena surrounded with bleachers.
At least eight groups of drummers sang and
accompanied the dancers, dressed in their traditional
costumes. Dancers
were of all ages.
Some dances were competitions and prizes were
awarded. It
was a beautiful presentation and thrilling to attend.
Our next stop was Cody, Wyoming, where we spent
hours at the Buffalo Bill Museum, the Irma Hotel, and
the Cody Night Rodeo.
The Cody Night Rodeo began in 1938 and runs
from June 1st through August 31st,
each summer. We
attended the 74th performance and
$153,438.56 had been paid out in prize money as of
that night. Jim
and Cathy Ivory, produce the rodeo and provide the
stock. This rodeo, which is a part of Wyoming history, not only
gives area cowboys a chance to compete it draws
cowboys from as far away as Florida, New Mexico,
Arizona, and Australia.
The two bullfighters this summer are Dici and
Dinho Birtch, from Maringa, Brazil.
Some of the rodeo greats that got their start
at the Cody Night Rodeo are; Freckles Brown who became
World Champion Bull Rider in 1962, Jim Houston, World
Champion Bareback Rider in 1964 & 1965.
Bill Smith, Saddle Bronc World Champion in
1969, 1971 and 1973, World Champion Bareback Rider
Chris LeDoux, Tom Ferguson, All-Around World Champ
from 1974 through 1979, Champion Calf Roper in 1974
and Champion Steer Wrestler in 1977 and 1978.
Deb Greenough World Champion Bareback Rider of
1993. Many
of Cody Night Rodeo’s stock has gone to the National
Finals Rodeo, which is prestigious in itself.
Come Apart, a bronc, foaled in the
spring of 1945 in Wyoming, bucked at the Cody Night
rodeo and was described by a writer for the ProRodeo
Sports News, “It’s easy to see why they named him Come Apart - he lived up to his
name every time a chute gate was opened.
He pulled part cowboys’ ribs, snapped their
wrists and rearranged their forearms.
He jerked gloves right out of the rigging, and
the stitching right out of the gloves.
And when he got done turning cowboys upside
down, he turned them inside out.
For the power that this horse possesses was
like no other.”
The Cody Night Rodeo stands apart as it is
the only rodeo in the world with a rodeo every
night all summer.
Cody is Rodeo! don’t miss it.
I can hardly wait to get on the
road again!
|
