When I was just four years old, I referred to the National Anthem as the “rodeo song” and my dad’s old blue F-250 as the “rodeo truck.” I had a closet full of cowgirl hats, blue jeans and boots and I adored anything to do with horses. I knew almost everything about how to saddle, ride and take care of horses by the time I was in elementary school. The reason for all of this – my dad is a true cowboy.
In college and beyond, my dad competed in rodeos as a calf roper. His love for the sport was inspired by his father who also worked with horses. That same love was then passed down to my brother and I and became a crucial part of our childhood.
There was something about the rodeo that I fell in love with when I was a kid. I’m not sure if it was the pretty horses, the excitement of the speed events or just seeing my family so happy together, but I couldn’t get enough. I started riding horses in my early childhood and competed in shows for most of my life.
Rodeo culture has always fascinated me. If you have ever been to one you know there is an energy about them that is unlike anything else. However, it wasn’t always glamorous belt buckles and extravagant performances. The first rodeos were orchestrated by the Spanish vaqueros, the first cowboys, as fun competitions while they weren’t working.
Over time, rules were developed and new events were added. Fast forward to the modern day and rodeos are now enjoyed all over the country. Rodeos have become a hallmark of American culture, hailing the heroic archetype of the cowboy and preserving the pioneer spirit of the wild west.
To many people today, this unique culture and traditions may seem too over-the-top, but knowing the true character of the people in the arena makes all the difference. Growing up in that environment taught me so much, not just about how to be a better rider, but about life as a whole. There is a certain determination among the cowboys and cowgirls that I grew up with that is scarce in many other places.
Through interacting with and learning from these people in my most formative years, I have become the person I am today. For example, I learned patience from endless hours in the warmup pen practicing the same small movement with my horse. I learned I do not like the feeling of failure but that it is inevitable and oftentimes much more valuable than winning. Each time I fell off (and I did more than once), I learned that it was crucial to get back up and try again because refusing to give up is more important than being perfect.
While it is true that these lessons and more can be learned in many different places, I will always be biased to the barns and arenas that I learned them in. While they were not always pretty, they are a special kind of home to me even today and I call on those memories often.
Just a few weeks ago, the rodeo came to Lafayette as it does every year. My family went and that same feeling settled over me. The smell of the dust brought me back to some of my earliest memories and I felt a deep gratitude for how I grew up. Seeing my dad smile the way he only does around horses and talking about each event while keeping our eyes fixed on the arena brought me so much joy.
I understand that this is a unique take on what rodeos are. To most, they are a caricature of an old way of life rather than an emotional reminder of one’s past. I never competed in rodeos like my dad, I have not been in the saddle for some time and since starting college, I do not interact with my animals every day. Yet, I still carry everything I have learned from this incredible world with me everywhere I go.
The fearless men and women that I learned from continue to inspire me. Every day I strive to approach life with as much courage and confidence as a barrel racer flying out of the gate or a calf roper nodding to the chute operator before a run. Most of all, I strive to be like my dad who taught me to love this way of life on the good days and even more on the bad days.
He always said, “If this was easy, everyone would do it,” not to boast but to remind me that working hard for something is a talent in and of itself and worth more than any belt buckle could ever be.