Rodeo

Earlier this month we ventured over to the Spokane County Fair to see the rodeo. Brad claims to have never been to a rodeo before (which I have a hard time believing since he grew up in Idaho). And since cowboy blood runs in my veins, I decided we needed to go.

First we checked out what the fair had to offer. It was pretty typical fair stuff until we ran into the Mutton Bustin' booth: A venue where parents were putting their 4-6 year old children on sheep to see if they could hold on for 6 seconds. Sort of like a child version of bull-riding.

We cheered on the kids (many of whose rides ended in a face full of dirt and tears) and laughed at the parents. It was great. As we walked away Leah cried "I want to ride a sheep!" Maybe next year...?

Unbeknownst to us, the rodeo was actually a national-circuit rodeo (not just a small county affair). So the cowboys were really, really good and the rodeo ran very smoothly. It was probably the best rodeo I've ever been to. We saw bareback riding, calf roping, bronco riding, steer wrestling, team roping, barrel racing, and bull riding. Some of the cowboys had won upwards of $200,000 this year in their events and there were national champions from recent national rodeos competing. It was awesome! We all loved it!

Leah liked the barrel racing

Lainy liked the clowns

I came away thankful for good, old-fashioned fun and thinking about cowboys and horses and my Grandpa Smith. I seem to a remember a time he entered my sister and I in mutton bustin' and laughed his head off when my sheep just sat down instead of running. He passed away two years ago the night we were at the rodeo. It seemed appropriate to be doing what we were doing that night. He would have loved it. Love you, Grandpa!

My beautiful grandmother and cowboy grandpa