Living the western lifestyle when you don’t live in the west can get you funny looks. I wear cowboy boots. A lot! I love them. I have 3 felt cowboy hats (10X or better) 3 straw and palm hats for the summer. Countless shirts, fancy belts, jackets, etc. But beyond dressing the part I eat drink and sleep rodeo. Most of my vacations have been rodeo centered. I watch some kind of rodeo or bull riding every weekend.
I outed myself as a cowgirl officially about 2 years ago. Since I have publicly been living my way some of my friends have embraced it and ask questions to get to know more about my hobbies. Some of them roll their eyes and secretly say she’s just in it for the fancy boots and belts. I even had someone say “yeah it’s been a while, I guess she’s serious”. But my best friend, who was not a rodeo fan, was willing to go with me to the NFR without hesitation. OK so maybe that’s because it was in Las Vegas, but nonetheless she went. And she went with me to Dallas for Iron Cowboy and The American. I heard her say to someone while we were sitting in ATT stadium that she was starting to get to like the sport. Score one for me, a convert!
Most of the people I work with don’t get it and that’s OK. But what is not OK is the guy that said “You go to rodeos, you ride horses, you listen only to country music, and you drive a Wrangler. But you’re black?”. So clearly he is small minded. But I also know that is the source of many of the looks I get at performances that I attend. I want to scream that cowboys have been in America for a very, very long time. And they have always been in all different colors.The world of ranching and farming, these most honorable professions, are part of the fabric of our country. And as such the people providing the food for our American tables come in many races and ethnicity.
If you Google rodeo organizations you get quite a variety of groups that participate in the greatest sport on dirt. There are organizations that primarily support Native American, Black, Women, Gays, Mexicans, Australians, Canadians in rodeo. So prejudging someone based on your perception of what a cowboy should look like is short sighted and antiquated. This is me screaming COWBOYS COME IN ALL COLORS!
Those of us who love the western lifestyle want to share our enthusiasm with many. While we may not enjoy the over commercialization of it, we realize that in order to keep the rodeo lifestyle going we need an influx of capital. This is how we get better stock, purses, health care, and venues for our arena athletes by being inclusive. Being exclusive only serves to supress growth.
I have been to the NFR twice, in 2013 and 2014. I attend usually on the last 4 nights. When I tell you that the Thomas and Mack Center is filled to capacity that is an understatement. Over 18,000 people attend the live performances each night while 10s of thousands view in Las Vegas at alternative venues. Not counting the many that watch on TV and on livestream. Recognizing that making a sport accessible to the masses only ensures the future growth is business savvy and forward thinking. Not that I agree with the way all of the organizations are run, but we have to recognize a successful business model.
This means bringing people into your passion. When was the last time that you spoke with a stranger about rodeo and how exciting it is? Just yesterday at my son’s baseball game I invited one of his buds to go to the Cowtown Rodeo in Pilesgrove, NJ with us this summer. My son’s enthusiasm for rodeo is so contagious his 2nd grade teacher, who grew up in Kansas riding and racing, told me that she is going to attend some events this summer too. So I have brought 3 people into the lifestyle just this past week. Imagine if we spread our enthusiasm to anyone, regardless of color or gender, how much we could grow our local event support.
Getting involved in your local organizations is also a great way to help shape the way the western lifestyle is viewed. Volunteering with your local circuit, children’s rodeo group, high school rodeo group. Spend some time with a local rancher. Or for your own growth read about the American Cowboy (of all colors), get your latest rodeo information from great people like Rodeo Chat on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and continue reading my blog.
So while I admit that I love every single pair of cowboy boots that I own, even before I had them I loved watching a cowboy on the back of a horse participating in the greatest sport on dirt. I will continue to participate and be a spectator and spread my enthusiasm to anyone who will listen. Even if I am from the North.
Coming soon an interview with a First Frontier Circuit Champion. Follow me on Twitter @cowgirl19114
cowgirl19114 
Leave a comment