Nicole
I'm used to friendliness. You come to expect it when you live in Iowa. When you go on a walk, strangers say, ``Hi.'' When you check out at the grocery store, people say, ``Thanks,'' and, ``Have a nice day.''
So I guess I shouldn't have been surprised by how friendly the folks at the Fisher Rodeo were yesterday. They were grateful for the coverage, and out of the 17 people I hit up for a mugshot and a quote about their favorite rodeo event, 16 said yes. Even the bull rider with dirt on his face and two women who felt a bit ``too pregnant'' for a photo shoot obliged. I felt even more welcome when these kind people took me under their wing to teach me about rodeo events.
See, before Sunday, I'd been to only one rodeo. It was at the Cattle Congress in Waterloo when I was a youngster. Other than that, my only glimpse of rodeos was watching (OK, crying through) the movie ``8 Seconds'' and pausing on PBR events while surfing channels. So I wander through rows of horse trailers and pickups, dodging meadow muffins and think, ``Here I am, a rodeo rookie, asking people about their favorite rodeo events.''
Fortunately, most people say bull riding. I know what that is. But one girl says breakaway roping. Huh? A guy named Cody Vande Voorde says mutton bustin'. Double huh? I'm afraid of looking stupid in front of Cody and his fellow bull riders (and I'm a little worried that he's
pulling my leg with some fictitious event), but I ask him to spell it and explain what it is. He tells me it's sheep riding -- a kiddie version of bull riding.
A few minutes later, I mosey over to the fence to take in the action. Sure enough, mutton bustin' is a real thing. Little boys and girls are holding onto galloping sheep for dear life. It's about the cutest thing I've ever seen.
A little boy dressed as a clown rousts the sheep back to the gate after each ride. The boys and girls dress up in little fringed chaps and cowboy hats and boots. One boy screams through the whole ride, and one little girl employs an interesting, but effective technique. She lays with her stomach on the sheep's back, hugging it with her hands and feet.
As I stand by the fence, taking in other events (and often jumping out of the way when a bucking animal bumbles by, kicking up dust), a teenage girl strikes up a conversation. I tell her why I'm there, and she asks me if I'm new to the world of rodeo. Is it that obvious, I wonder? Maybe the fact that I'm one of the few people not wearing a cowboy hat is the giveaway. As it turns out, 16-year-old Kathy Dake lives near the rodeo, and her parents help out with it. She's been going to the rodeo for years, and she offers to tell me the point of each event, along with the rules. By the time I leave, I have a decent understanding of each event.
So thanks to Kathy for the lesson and to everyone else for being so friendly. If you want to check out the rodeo, you still have two chances this year, Sept. 3 and Sept. 24. Get more info at www.fisherrodeo.com
Check out On the Street in Monday's Gazette to find out which event Fisher Rodeo attendees like best, and tune in next week, when co-host Carly Weber will be at Downtown Getdown in Marion Square Park.