I arrived back in Ames from North Platte at about 4 AM on Thursday, got a couple hours of sleep, repacked and loaded up Blue to head to Bellevue for the Jackson County ProRodeo. They put me right to work when I got there with a radio interview followed by autographs during the Three Hills Rodeo pre-show. During the rodeo I helped with the opening, set a pivot for the grand entry, and carried sponsor flags for each event. I even got the privilege to meet the Texas Kid, Rodney Hayes and his talented 10 year-old sidekick, Mattie, and helped out during their act. When the rodeo was over, I got to go home to my VIP "suite" room on the top floor of The Bellevue House Inn, complete with large bathroom, my own whirlpool tub, king size bed, and did I mention a beautiful view over the Mississippi river! Thank you to Kevin and Vonnie for the wonderful accommodations during my stay in Bellevue.
Friday morning Stacy Watson, my chaperone for the weekend, took me to visit the daycare just up the street from where I was staying. Her three year-old daughter Rylee, a fellow barrel racer, and I had a great time talking with the kids and answering their many questions about rodeo. Next we went downtown to stop and thank the local businesses who were sponsors of the rodeo. Without these wonderful sponsors, our rodeos could not exist! After an hour straight downpour prior to the rodeo, the rain stopped, the arena was worked and the rodeo went on, just a little late! I was amazed to see how many people again packed the grandstands for the rodeo, despite the weather.
Saturday I had the opportunity to visit the local care center, get pictures with the residents, sign autographs for them, and heard many stories. I was especially touched by one special lady I visited with who was 104 years old! I had the afternoon off, so I washed the mud Blue had caked on himself from the night before and cleaned myself up for the rodeo as well. Saturday night brought another beautiful night for the final performance of the rodeo. I had such a wonderful stay in Bellevue and would like to thank the Bellevue Rodeo Committee and Three Hills Rodeo for inviting me and to Stacy for being such a big help while I was there!
Three days off and I was back on the road again, headed northeast, this time to Edgewood. I arrived and settled Blue into his stall right across the street from the rodeo grounds, in John Romig's barn. Next, I settled myself into my host home at Jim and Kathy Funke's house and started getting ready for the nights activities before the rodeo. I had been having bad luck with my vehicles the past week and I guess it followed me out of Ames, because not 10 minutes after I arrived at the Funke's, I looked outside only to see my truck sitting in the middle of the street with one back tire over the curb and on the neatly manicured golf course! Apparently it had popped out of gear and the parking break did not catch when I set it because it rolled down their steep driveway and narrowly missed a passing car, as I was told by a neighbor who witnessed it. Luckily, Roger Mooney, the rodeo announcer never got wind of the story to share my embarrassment with the whole town!
The Thursday performance was hot, but the stands were full and the rodeo was a success. Miss Rodeo ISU, Heidi Ganzen was on hand to help out. We rode the big Three Hills black and white paints for the opening and grand entry again and I tested Blue's cowhorse skills chasing out cattle during the timed events. I also helped Rodney Hayes and Mattie during their act again, being a hitching post for his bull and her ponies while they performed their many stunts, and even got to ride Billy the Kid, his trained bull, when their act was finished.
Friday morning I had a radio interview, followed by a visit to the daycare. I spent the morning being a kid again, helping make stick horses, sitting at the short table for lunch with them, and ending the afternoon with a parade around the room on their newly crafted stick horses. I had such a fun time with the kids and it was great to see several of them the next couple of days at the rodeo and around town! It cooled down by late afternoon but we luckily avoided rain for the Friday night pre-show and performance. After the rodeo, I tried some of the famous Edgewood fried chicken from one of the tents set up at the rodeo grounds.
Saturday morning I visited the assisted living and care center in the middle of town around lunch time and got to meet most of the residents and sat down and chatted for quite some time with a few of them. It is always great getting to know the people that have grown up and lived in the area their whole life, it makes me feel at home there too! Saturday afternoon was parade time and there were threats that I would be soaked by water balloons (not that I would have minded in the heat!) but made it through the parade dry. After the parade was the Sheep Rodeo for the kids at the arena. I think kids came from miles around to try their hand at mutton bustin' for the chance to win prize money and a free ice cream cone. Following that, it was nearly rodeo time again. I sat in the shade with the Guttenberg Hospital employees who were selling "Tough Enough to Wear Pink" t-shirts and signed autographs. All of the ladies (and a few gentlemen) who manned the tent with me were so much fun, and we had our own little fun photo shoots. The rodeo was packed again for the final performance and the weather was absolutely gorgeous. I had such a wonderful time in Edgewood, thanks in part to my host family, Jim and Kathy Funke and the rest of their family, Blue's host family, John Romig, and to Elise Bergan and the Edgewood Rodeo Committee and Three Hills Rodeo who invited me.
Recent Comments