Weekend update 1: Rodeo & (no) new saddle...

This weekend was the 40th annual Corn Palace Stampede Rodeo, a 4-day long, major summertime event for Mitchell. Inevitably hot & sticky, the crowds don't care, and this year was no exception. The stands were packed all four nights, the streets were lined for the parade, and vats of chili disappeared in record time at the cook-off Sunday morning.

T was volunteered (not by me) to be a judge for the rodeo parade Saturday morning. He had a ball, of course. And also ended up helping out checking IDs at the contestant gates all four nights. Me? I went to watch!

Parade pics:

Of course there were queens...

and whatever the requisite amount of tractors is,
the quota was more than met.

There were clowns - and the Ethan Trail Riders,
a Stampede staple!
(they always park the cars and rake during the barrel runs),

if you enlarge the picture,
T's the one under the canopy
on the far left in the cowboy hat & shades

There were wagons...

...and mules.
The trainer who started
Sunny for me,
with his latest long-eared project.

The rodeo entertainment...

Yes, that is a real little girl
on a very small pony
on top of that trailer.

The "Texas Kid" standing next to her also rode in.
On a Brazilian Gir bull. (HUGE)

This little lady sat next to me
and enjoyed every minute of the spectacle.

Our kids declined to attend the parade - M was working the state trap shoot all weekend (that's him under the yellow umbrella scoring) although he did go to the actual performances on Saturday and Sunday night and enjoyed every minute of the action. H said it was too early and too hot.