YeeeeeeeHaw!

To kick the July 4th festivities into gear a little early, Megan and I headed to St. Paul (OR, not MN) to take in the rodeo. We try to catch at least one rodeo each summer, considering it a tribute to our country roots. It's the one time a year we can legitimately holler "YeeeEEEEHaaaaww" without drawing attention, and actually enjoy a Coors Light! (I swear - they only taste good at a rodeo. Any other time I wouldn't touch it. Go figure).

For a town of 300 people, St. Paul has a pretty impressive rodeo, and we had a great time taking it all in. Queens and Princesses from rodeos all over the area showed off their fringe and Aqua Net at the grand entry. There is still a place for big hair in this world.
Our friend and fellow Master Chorus member, Mary Ann Zielinski, sang the national anthem. She did an awesome job - even keeping her cool when the flag bearer whipped right by her at top speed.
This rodeo has all the good "classic" events...bareback riding, bull riding, roping, barrel-racing, saddle broncs. You name it. Lucky us, we arrived on the night that Miss Rodeo Oregon was being crowned. Snicker, snicker...Buckle Bunnies...in pink wranglers...cracks me up =)


The special entertainment for the night was Oklahoma's "One Armed Bandit." Apparently this one-armed show rider is pretty famous. Part of his schtick involves a couple of trained bison who do some tricks. Mr. Bandit may not have counted on the fact that the St. Paul rodeo organizers plant their signature arbor vitae around the edge of the ring. The plants are about 4 feet tall and spaced about 25 feet apart around the perimeter of the ring. When the Bandit's Bison were released into the ring, they immediately zeroed in on those little 4 foot snacks and went after them.
The bison rammed the arbor vitae with their heads, chomping on the greenery, and dragging them out of the ground. Meanwhile the Bandit is still riding around the ring - his music blaring, and the prepared narration being read - but he can't even get the attention of this "trick" Bison. Snack-time took precedence.

Finally, after rooting up five of the plants, dragging them around the ring, and devouring them, the Bison turned their attention back to their performance. By then, the Bandits music and narration had run out and he was improvising. He did manage to get the whole crew up on top of his trailer for the grand finale.
All in all we had a great time - I'd recommend the St. Paul Rodeo if you're looking for something fun to do this weekend. Yeeeehaawww!