By DOANE YAWGER
Special to the Times
There are many ways to be entertained these days and one of the best of them has to be the rodeo. There just aren’t enough rodeos in this neck of the woods.
The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association returned to the Merced County Fair for two nights of grandstands-packed entertainment that moved along very quickly for nearly 2 1/2 hours last weekend.
The fair hadn’t hosted a rodeo for 15 years and it’s hoped that the traveling circuit will be back here again in future years.
What better way to start a rodeo than to bring in special guests in a real-life stagecoach? The Wells Fargo-style stagecoach like those in the ancient TV westerns accommodated at least four guests and was pulled along by two horses that had been pressed into service. Then there was a high-speed flyover of the grandstands by a sheriff’s helicopter and another appearance of the Merced County Sheriff’s Posse which will be visiting Washington, D.C. for a parade over the Fourth of July weekend. Lots of pageantry is to be expected at rodeos, especially horse-riding rodeo queens with flyers.
On Friday only one rider was able to stay on his bull for the required eight seconds for a full ride. The feisty bulls didn’t appreciate having somebody on their backs and were looking to horn anyone who got in their way. So a number of horse-mounted cowboys were mobilized to herd these animals out of the arena after their performances were done — cooperation from these bovines could be spotty at best.
For those quickly bucked off the bulls the applause of the audience was all that they were going to receive for the evening, plus plenty of bruises and sore muscles post-ride. Competitors on the traveling PRCA circuit earn points at the event which will be added to their season-long totals, along with cherished belt buckles.
More bucking was in order with wild bucking broncos that did their level best to knock the uninvited guests off their flanks.
A number of women barrel racers attempted to negotiate the three-barrel course but many of them got five-second penalties for knocking over the barrels. Still the top finishers got the job done in about 17 seconds.
All of the rodeo competitors have to have considerable skills but the requisite training for the horse and rider to be synchronized in barrel racing has to be extensive. And the bucking bronco and steer competitors have quite a routine to get ready for their fleeting moment of up and down fun after the chute is opened.
Speaking of skills, team-roping cowboys had to have the drill down to get a steer wrestled to the ground in mere seconds. And team roping where calves were wrestled to the ground and three of their legs tied together can be an elusive effort.
Starting off the fast-paced rodeo entertainment was an endearing event — mutton busting. Youngsters from just a few years of age had to stay on their sheep for several seconds but only a couple managed to finish their ride atop the unwilling host.
And the rodeo also was a special occasion for wannabe cowboys and cowgirls to find just the right western outfit, including hats, boots, shirts, shorts, blouses and jeans. It’s a fun way to make a fashion statement for guys and gals of all ages.
I sure hope the rodeo comes back to the fair next year. The missus and I went to a private rodeo a few years ago in Merced and a big event at Selland Arena in Fresno. It’s just fun watching and we can’t wait for the next one.
Doane Yawger of Merced is a semi-retired newspaper reporter and editor.
