Yeeehaw!
Author: Bill Garwood
Yeeehaw!
It’s August in Townsend, Montana - time for the county fair and rodeo. This is a special time for all the young folks who have livestock to sell and bid on. These kinds of events are always a big deal in small towns all over America, it brings a sense of responsibility to younger people who get a sense of “Attention to Detail”. Those little things that might not seem like much but actually are very important.
My favorite part of the fair is always the exhibit hall; there you see the photos and exhibits put together by people from all grades in the local school. There is some serious talent in these young minds, and many thanks to all parents who encourage their young folks to excel at whatever they try to do in life.
The evening rodeo is an interesting event, cowboys /cowgirls are all rough and ready to show off their talents on horseback. I watch a lot of rodeos on the morning television shows (while getting my morning Pepsi) and I tell you these idiots…Uh, I mean, brave souls who leap up on the backs of bulls and mustangs to be thrown all over the place, are all a bit crazy! These are “mostly” wild animals, that just want to get these humans off their backs. Like horses in a racehorse stable, after a race you know they talk crap to each other. “Hey, I was so far ahead of y‘all, I thought you were standing still."
I have seen some really rough rides over the years, where you would think the horse/bull really hated the rider. Hmmm maybe they do, or it actually is a matter of pride that some horses/bulls can throw a rider several feet in the air. This is a dangerous sport, but it has had a place in American Cowboy culture for over a hundred years. These horses needed to be broken in, so the cowboys/cavalry could get their work done. The steers…well we need good steaks!
The entertainment is also fun, the ladies all gussied up in their finest while the guys mostly just throw on their least dusty jeans. (With bright pattern western shirts.) Line dancing and good old Country music lets us all enjoy a beautiful “Big Sky” summer evening, between thunderstorms! Way out at the Fairgrounds it is really beautiful to be able to see all of our huge western sky, and billions of stars (and an airliner or two.)
Remember on Sunday, the 10th, there will be the Annual Rodeo parade down Broadway at noon.
Then Monday we all REST.
