Cody, You fail to get the point that many here are older values cattle ranchers and don't go to the rodeo to hear an announcer that doesn't know how to fill mic time with humor and interesting ranch chatter, play ZZ Top's Sharp Dressed Man while a dude comes out riding a 2 million dollar Tennesse Walker dressed in all the latest western fashion brands sponsoring the rodeo. I had rather see an old chuckwagon pulled by Clydales loaded with Budwiser beer while my friend, now deceased, a blues hall of fame musician from Baker City sings his rockin blues tune, Baker City BBQ.
"Well it is the 4th of July outside of Baker City
where the cowboys and the hippies are dressed up all pretty
were going to party on down just like we used to do
it is a low down hoe down Baker City barbeque
Put on by the JC's going on 35 year
lots of great food and Budwiser beer
were going to party on down like we used to do
it is a low down hoe down Baker City barbeque"
Eastern Oregon has had several famous folks involved in modern-day rodeo. Announcers bullfighters, stock contractors, etc. so rodeo royalty is not a big deal to folks in these parts east of the Cascades, especially working ranchers.
First, I don't "fail" to get the point. Ranch people don't have to go to PRCA sanctioned rodeos when they have their own rodeo Association.
As far as your statement about the act playing ZZ Top's Sharp Dressed Man, it a Contract Act that, as far as I know, the Rodeo Committee hires. I've seen some weird Contract Acts, that will dress in really flashy clothes, but that just part of their Act.
I don't criticize rodeo, like you do. Wife and I like the way rodeo is today.
I remember how shocked both of us were when we attended, twice, the Wrangler Winter Finals in Las Vegas in June of 2001. That was our Wedding vacation and we loved it. Each round was held in the MGM Grand Gardens and I won our tickets playing a slot machine. During the opening, Aerosmith's "Walk This Way" was playing while the different events were shown on a large arena screen. At first, we didn't know what to think, but then got very, very use to the music.
And, obviously, you don't like those "rodeo" brands that I use to wear and wife and I still do. Absolutely nothing wrong with them. In fact, those Wrangler shirts now display companies/brands that pay a lot of traveling expenses for rodeo contestants.
I'm not a ranch hand, and no longer a member of rodeo, but still consider myself a cowboy. The word "cowboy" is in my heart, not in the arena anymore.
While living in So California, we attended a big "Old West" event in Norco, California called End Of Trail. Absolutely terrific! SASS was there as well. Plenty of old cowboy clothes and a big mobile arena where horseback shooters, a stagecoach robbery, Native American Indians attacking the stagecoach, etc. It was a wonderful day.
@Mountain Cowgirl, the old ways of rodeo will never return. Just like sitting on an old John Deere tractor, reaching behind and pulling a rope to lower the plough blades down.