Rodeo season is in full swing!

With the kick off of spring, rodeo season has kicked off too! We realize that attendees watch this American Sport and understand the highlights but many may not realize details of each event. Just as football is a lot more exciting if you know what's going on in the field, rodeo is a lot more intense if you understand what is going on in the arena.

We are going to start a blog series that breaks down each event found at PRCA sanctioned rodeos; which you will find right here at Parson's Stadium this July!

We couldn't think of a better event to start with than Saddle-bronc riding as it is recognized as the "classic sport of rodeo." This is one of the original events because the techniques and is influence by cowboys original practices of breaking horses. In early rodeos, the broncs were blindfolded and saddle in the middle of the arena and after the rider mounted, the horse would go on a bucking spree for several minutes! Thankfully the techniques began to evolve, decreasing the qualifying times from thirty to ten and now eight second rides. Riders use as Association saddle was created to give riders more freedom and were safer as they had no horn and free swinging stirrups. Competitors grip a thick braided cotton or polyester rein that is attached to the horse's halter.

During Bronc-Riding today, the horses is saddled in a side opening chute so that the rider can mount. At the nod of the cowboy, the chute is opened and the clock begins. He first has to "Mark Out" or have his spurs over the horse's point of shoulders when the horses front feet hit the ground. This is called the mark out rule; if riders don't do this, they receive a no time. The ride will also be disqualified if the touches himself, the saddle or the horse with his free hand, looses a stirrup or doesn't ride the full eight seconds. During the ride, cowboys receive a higher score for their spurring technique and ability to stay in rhythm with the horse.

The ride is typically judged by two judges that are allowed to allocate 50 points each for a total of 100 points. Half of the points are given to the horse's rankness (how hard they buck) and half is given to the cowboy for his riding technique and control. The 2013 World Champion saddle bronc rider is Chad Ferley from Oelrich, South Dakota.

America's Sport

Rodeo is a sport known for it's patriotism, sportsmanship and tradition. Pecos, Texas likes to claim having hosted the first community rodeo in 1883 but credit is given to Prescott, Arizona Territory on July 4, 1888 because it charged admission, had a committee and spectators. The first events were bronc riding and steer wrestling. Although the first accredited event was until the 1880s ,recognized competitions began as early as 1969 when cowboys had friendly competition of daily ranching tasks. The sport didn't originally establish itself as a stationary event, in fact, it began as Wild West shows where cowboys traveled and exhibited special talents. The first show was Colonel William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody's Wild West extravaganza in 1882 followed closely by others such as Pawnee Bill's Historic Wild West, the Miller Brothers' 101 Ranch Real Wild West, the Tom Mix Circus and Wild West and Colonel Tim McCoy's Real Wild West and Rough Riders of the World. 

Rodeo was a catalyst for equality in a time of race discrimination. The sport united Hispanic, African American and Anglo American athletes. Observers didn't see the color of their skin but instead realized their true talent. While American's today recognize baseball to be the first racially integrated sport in 1947, rodeo exceeded this by some 65 years! Rodeo truly encompasses the values of diversity, freedom, perseverance and hard work that our nation was built on and continues to rely on today. 

To blanket or not to blanket??

During the winter months, there is always a hint of uncertainty about whether or not to blanket your horse. Some may argue that no animal should wear clothes while others put blankets on for any reason they can find.

The honest truth? You don't HAVE to blanket a horse because they are naturally hardy animals. Horses produce a coat that is thick enough to withstand harsh winter weather. Dr. Michael Foss explains that "Heat rising from the body warms the air, but that air doesn't go anywhere because it's trapped between the hairs." The early horse didn't have people to look after them but they also had the resources to seek shelter in brush or tree thickets, so be sure your horses can at least get out of the wind.

That being said, there are certain circumstances that horses may require a bit more attention and it may be a good idea to take blanketing into consideration.

• show horse and s/he is clipped, it is advisable to help keep them warm because they are prohibited from growing their natural hair
• senior horses, especially if they don't support a healthy appetite to maintain a thick flesh
• young horses, they may not have developed enough flesh and hair to keep warm during the extremely cold weather
• relocated horses moved from warm to cold areas before the initial hair growth, to help adjust to a new climate
• visibly see they are shivering, it is a clear indication that they are need of more protection

One common misconception is that blanketing can cause your horses hair not to grow. While it can lead to shorter hair growth, the coat will still have a thick undercoat. Horses grow two coats a year, one in the winter and one in the summer. Regardless of blanketing, the horses natural brain responds to day length and they begin growing their coat in August to prepare for the winter months. 

If you have any discussion to add, please do so! 

Miss Rodeo of the Ozarks
Kelsey Parmenter

Denim & Diamonds

"I don't know why ya don't take me down town anymore..." sings Lady Antebellum on the radio... your significant other turns it up and gives you a "hint, hint" look. Avoid the look and treat her to a night out at the 4th Annual Denim & Diamonds Gala at Cherokee Casino in West Siloam Springs?

The event will feature live entertainment and a dance floor to get your boot scootin' on. Of course, after all that dancing, you'll be pretty hungry which is where the 5 course, savory steak dinner comes into play! Not to mention there will be a live and silent auction beginning at 5:30pm. Rodeo packages, boots, golf club packages, and gift certificates are just a few of the items you will have the chance to bid on! The night doesn't have to end when our entertainment finishes at 11:00pm because Cherokee Casino is giving $10.00 of free play to everyone who attends! 

You get to enjoy all of this at a cost of $70 per person, $550 for an eight person table or $650 for a 10 person table while helping make a difference in the communities of Northwest Arkansas! 100% of proceeds will go towards our scholarships and youth programs hosted by Rodeo of the Ozarks and Springdale Benevolent Foundation. 

We also invite you to be a part of the difference by donating auction items. This is a prime opportunity to showcase your business while impacting communities in a positive way! All contributions are tax-deductible. The Springdale Benevolent Foundation is a 501c3 entity (#48-1270475).  For further questions or to request donation pick up, please contact the stadium office at 479-756-0464.

We cannot wait to show off the improvements made to the venue! You're sure to enjoy the 4th Annual Denim & Diamonds Gala! 

You may be an agriculturalist if...

You may be an agriculturalist if you got excited about the announcement that congress finally passed the new 5 year Farm Bill last week! The Farm Bill is a food reform that provides assistance to America's farmers and ranchers. "But how does this affect me?" You may ask. This bill is security for American producers to safely and securely continue producing our food while taking our environment into consideration. In addition to addressing our food producers, the bill is largely directed toward the issue of food stamps, which affects some 47 million Americans today! It passed in congress with a 62-38 vote.

Just a little history on the topic: The bill began in 1933 and is supposed to be revised every five years. It is set to expire after 7 years, if not updated, so America's agriculturalists were getting especially worried, as it provides production security and compensates for extremely low commodity prices. The Farm Bill of 2008 was in order to be address in 2012 but continued to be put on the back burner due to our nation's debt crisis but if allowed to expire, it could have potentially devastated and destroyed thousands of small town farmers and ranchers.

One major change to the reform is that rather than direct payments made to producers, there will be an investment in insurance companies. This change increases the number of jobs and the stability of agriculture insurance agencies while continuing to provide peace of mind to today's agriculturalists.
In regards to food stamps or the Nutrition Assistance Program, costs will be cut by some $8 million dollars by tightening guidelines so that "illegal immigrants, lottery winners, traditional college students, and the deceased do not receive benefits." It additionally prohibits entities from advertising or promoting the use of food stamps. 

Rodeo of the Ozarks agrees that is important to know what is going on in the world around us. We plan to post about current events regarding the agriculture industry, western heritage and local events and issues. Let us know what you want to hear about!




Sources:

http://www.nal.usda.gov/laws-and-regulations/farm-bill
http://nationalaglawcenter.org/farmbills/