Mud and dust fly at rodeo

HOT SPRINGS - Over the course of two days, as part of the Hot Springs Homesteaders Days, there was a rodeo just east of the Hot Springs School that saw participants flying through the air, crashing into the dusty ring and dodging stampeding animals.

For eight dollars a person, audience members were treated to a full blown rodeo with; steer wrestling, calf roping, bareback, saddle bronc, team roping, ladies breakaways, mini bulls, jr. breakaway, more team roping, bull riding, ladies barrels, jr. barrels, kids barrels, and the first day wild cow milking.

On Saturday, the rodeo started at 6:00pm after much of the Homesteaders Days activities had finished up. Visitors could sit on bleachers or walk around the arena and find a special spot near the pins or even close to the chutes. Food was also available including soft serve ice cream and refreshments, which the 4-H club ran.

Contestants in the rodeo came from all over and some came as far as Helena and one contestant came all the way from Amarillo, Texas.

The events alternated between the chutes and the main gate of the arena allowing for the workers to continuously keep the events flowing. As the events where contestants entered and left the main gate, the bulls or broncs were being prepared in the chutes and vice versa.

To finish the first day of rodeo events, there was a special event. Anyone could pay to partake in the what was called, “Wild Cow Milking,” which consisted of four individuals on a team who had to wrestle an angry heifer and milk her. All the teams competed at the same time and the winning team was the one who was able to get milk first and show it to a judge.

The second day, which was at 2:00pm was during the direct sun and made everyone slower and seek shade as soon as possible. All the same events were held excluding the wild cow milking.

Lunch consisted of ribs, bratwurst, or burgers and corn. There was also ice cream to help people cool off. The 4-H club also sold refreshments.