A bit of rodeo.  Team calf roping: two men on horseback lasso first horns then both back feet.  It was all over in 6 seconds.  Bull riding: the goal, stay on the animal for 8 seconds while amassing the most points for style and degree of difficulty of the bull’s movement.    Some made it the full 8 seconds others barely made it out of the chute.  A couple had to be rescued by the clowns when the bulls went for a little payback.  I have no idea how points were awarded and I’m not sure I want to know what they do to make the ride more challenging?!  This hour or so was probably long enough for my first exposure.

The kids scramble.  No sissies in this crowd.  Picture this.  About 150 kids from 5 to 15 lined up in the arena center.  A calf with a red scarf tied to it’s tail bursts from a gate into the arena.  The kids scatter, not away from the calf, toward it.  The goal is to be the kid who emerges with the scarf to win the new bicycle and bragging rights.  A 10 year old succeeded in just a minute or two.  Other prizes strewn around the arena (rodeo “dirt”) were snatched up by the kids.  The calf just wanted outta there.

Fair food.  An elephant ear of course.

Wow, there is a lot of beer consumed at these things.

Did you know?

Chuckwagon racing is the number one Alberta outdoor sport.  That’s what the Chuckwagon racing guys say anyway.