Bull Riding from Deadwood

Okay, the promised bull riding pictures. The more I am using my new camera, the better I am getting at some of the bells and whistles. I am pleased with these shots. I did not realize there was so much dust 'til I looked at these pictures. The bulls really stirred up the dirt in their attempt to throw the guy on their back. If I remember right this round was about 50/50-half of the cowboys won and half the time the bulls won.

Comments from the bulls follow...

You're done!

You're hangin' in there.

There he goes-side exit.

You wanna fight?

One more twisty-turn and he'll be gone.

I should have wiped better.

Another one bites the dust.

Who you callin' bully?

Rodeo Pictures

Curt attended the Days of '76 Rodeo during his college years. That was when it was legal to drink on the streets of Deadwood and the three or four days of rodeo were three or four days of party. Now many of the grandstand attendees are "Q-Tips": white hair and white shoes. Lots of western hats can be seen in the crowd. It is no longer legal to drink on the streets of Deadwood. There may still be lots of "partying" going on during the Days of '76, but it is being done after the rodeo and in the bars.


Bare Back bucking bronc event

Those horses weren't so mild mannered once the straps and cowboys were added! This cowboy is in the correct position for the start of his ride. He needs to stay on the back of the horse for 8 seconds, keeping one hand wrapped around a rope and the other in the air, away from the horse's body all while spurring the horse as it turns and bucks and spins and bucks. The judges score the horse and the rider from 1 to 50. The scores are added together. If the cowboy's score is in the 80s, he has had a good ride.

Steer wrestling. There's just something about a man with a small bum in a tight pair of jeans.

In this event a steer is released from a pen and a cowboy on his horse, after giving the calf a head start, must slide off his horse, grab the horns of the steer, twist the steer around, bringing it to the ground and forcing its four legs off the ground. (Another cowboy is riding on the other side of the steer, keeping it in a straight line allowing the cowboy to judge when to get off and "hug" the steer.) A cowboy who wrestled his steer in 3.7 seconds won the event at this rodeo. That is fast. Sometimes the steer wins by slipping away or when the cowboy misjudges his slide and hug.

Saddle Bronc event. Another one bites the dust...

My favorite event is bull riding. Those pictures will be next.

Deadwood Days of '76

Thursday and Saturday of last week we attended three rodeo performances of the Days of '76 Rodeo in Deadwood, SD. Here are some pre-rodeo pictures.

Deadwood is located next to and on the mountainside. This was the scenery to our backs at the rodeo grounds.

This scene in front of us is a reminder of the fragile forest. There was a forest fire on this mountain which threatened to burn and destroy the town of Deadwood some years past. The forest floor is green showing the promise of regrowth. It is a stark reminder of the damage caused by man and nature.

Horse trailers, large semis, campers and motor homes surrounded the arena in the back parking lot. Cowboys and cowgirls came from all over the mid-west and southern states. One cowboy traveled from Australia. Two competitors were from Watertown.


These horses are calmly waiting for the saddle bronc and bareback bronc events. They look pretty mellow.

These Brahmas look quite harmless as they rest in the afternoon sun,

but they proved their size and worth later when the cowboys attempted to prove their skills.

Amber Waves of Grain...

Driving through the central part of SD on the way to the Black Hills made me think about the line "amber waves of grain". Grain harvest was in fun swing in the Pierre area. Some of it may be winter wheat, but the spring wheat was not far behind.

Girls' Day at the Butterfly House

Last Monday I spent the day with my daughter-in-law. She planned several activities new to both of us. One was a visit to the Butterfly House. The large tropical room was home to many different kinds of butterflies. Crystal did a great job trying to capture the unique colors and designs of some of them. (I did not bring my camera that day.) So enjoy her photos.