I went to Wolf Point for two reasons, it was on my way to the Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota AND because they had a big Rodeo scheduled for just the right days…as if they did it just for me. I’ve never been to a real Pro Rodeo before. I’ve seen rodeo-esque events at fairs, but not the real deal. I wanted to see a Pro Rodeo and I wanted to do it in Rodeo Country. What better place than a small town in Northeast Montana? And…AND…it was the 100th year anniversary of this event, The Wild Horse Stampede, so the town went ALL IN on making it spectacular.
The Rodeo lasted for 3 days, and I was there for the second half. I arrived on Friday around 5pm to check into the only campground in town, then head directly to the Stadium. The campground made a bad first impression…dicey and run down with no one in the office and a phone number to call. I managed to get ahold of someone eventually, but if there had been alternative options for camping in Wolf Point, I would have gone elsewhere. Let’s put it like this…I was nervous about showering because I was worried someone would come in there and…do something bad. Both nights, someone else had pulled into my campsite and I had to find ways to work around it. I think many people just camp there without paying since the manager is nowhere to be found and doesn’t seem to care. I was probably the only dummy to actually call the number and pay. One up-side is that the inside of the ladies bathroom was clean and tidy and the outer door had a lock that I used whenever I showered (just as a precaution).
My first night of rodeo did not disappoint! Everyone was excited, the stands were filled with nice people, and the events themselves were fabulous. It started out with opening ceremonies, flag girls riding around on horseback. The one that carried the Montana flag sped around the arena on what must have been a race-horse. Damn they were fast! Unfortunately…just as she finished the last turn, the saddle slipped and she fell off the horse. At that speed, the horse couldn’t stop right away and she was dragged for a bit. It was terrible! But, she got up pretty quick and walked away like nothing happened. I thought for sure she would be hurt badly…but either she was ok or she hides it well.
After the opening ceremonies, it was time for bareback bronc riding. Holy crap those horses can BUCK and the men just flop around like rag dolls trying to hold on for dear life (I know that’s not true – but it does look that way). It hurt my ass and my back just watching it. I wonder if they all have Chiropractors on retainer? Then came the saddled bucking broncos, but that seemed more tame than the barebacks.
The calf roping events bothered me. Sometimes those little cows really got going fast. When the lasso got around their neck, they would jerk back and fly up in the air. Then it was time for the cowboy to wrestle it down by force and tie 3 of its legs together. I know this is a time-honored and respected event, but it seems inhumane to me. Poor cow. Then there’s the event where two cowboys go after the calf and one ropes it’s neck while the other ropes it’s back feet. Almost as bad for the calf, but at least they missed more often than not.
Then the women’s calf roping pissed me off. They call it break-away roping; the woman rides and ropes the calf…then the rope just breaks away and that’s it. The calf doesn’t even break stride, it’s such a non-event. It was definitely better for the cow for sure, not traumatic at all. But what’s up with making the women’s version of this event so…wimpy? I bet there’s some cowgirls out there who could wrestle that calf down too. The feminist in me got her feather’s ruffled – wait…this is a Rodeo in Montana….I got my hide chapped! Much better. The women’s barrel racing was awesome, though. These women and their horses raced though the course and around those barrels so fast, you blink and you miss it.
Speaking of some women with skills…”intermission” was trick riding! Getting good pictures was tough – this was not hanging off the horse at a slow trot…these horses are fast!
The last event was the clincher – BULL RIDING! Holy shit those bulls a big and mean as hell. Once they bucked and spun the cowboys off their backs they chased the clowns and everyone aggressively. More than once a bull hit the barrel hard enough to send it flying. Man, that’s a dangerous job.
So, the Rodeo was AWESOME and I had just as much fun on the second night – Championship night. As I walked to my seat, I realized was grinning from ear to ear. I found some real Giddy in this Giddy-up town, but it wasn’t just the Rodeo. What really made those two days special were the people I met.
At the campground in the morning, I met my neighbors. They were terrific women who grew up in the area and moved away, but came back for the 100th Anniversary events. They came over to check out Rosie the Wondervan and stayed to chat and visit with me. Luanne was such a hoot! She’s a labor/delivery nurse and midwife who has traveled the world delivering babies. When I told her about my trip to Tanzania, she told me about her time as a midwife in Ethiopia, the Sudan and other places I don’t quite remember. She’s a pretty cool lady and we exchanged numbers so that I could meet up with her later that day and watch the Rodeo Parade together. As a former local, she knew lots of folks and I got to experience the parade as an adopted local. The whole day on Saturday was really special because of that.
After the parade, I hung out the the park in the shade and worked on the last post while people-watching. The park was full of local craft vendors and families out enjoying the festivities. The central bandstand had a man on guitar singing country songs so old I knew the words and could sing along….Take me home, country roads, to the place I belong, West Virginia, mountain momma, take me home, country roads. Those old songs bring back memories of family road trips in my dad’s old, mustard-yellow Ford Courier pickup with KRAC Country playing on the radio.
Then I headed over to the local café for a quick dinner before enjoying my second night of rodeo. As I sometimes (ok always) do, I chatted with the people seated next to me at the café. Like everyone I met in Wolf Point, they were friendly and sociable folks. I was particularly fascinated with one woman in the group (I wish I could remember her name!) who was decked out in the most spectacular outfit. She wore white capri jeans with a bright red shirt tucked in and accented with a fancy silvered western belt. Her red cowboy hat, red neckerchief and slick red cowgirl boots (fringed of course!) finished off her fabulous outfit. Her personality matched her outfit and I was enchanted by her natural charm. Dinner with newfound friends made it really fun, and then they secretly paid for my meal to boot!
On the second night of rodeo, pictures just wouldn’t do…so here are a couple of videos.