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Rodeo life

80 images Created 9 Oct 2013

The Iowa Rodeo Cowboys Association held its finals September 6-8, 2013 in Osceola, Iowa. Rodeo has a long history in American culture dating back to the 1880s when cowboys would gather and compete against one another for titles such as best roper or best bucking-horse rider. The national Rodeo Cowboys Association was formed in 1945 for professional cowboys, but amateur rodeo has also grown in popularity over the decades. Today, rodeo is more than just cowboys looking for ways to have fun and best one another. Now, even young children participate. In fact, the IRCA promotes family involvement.

I spent two days at the rodeo hoping to better understand the culture and the people--it's a slice of Americana that I have never experienced--and I wanted the inside story. The Davis family of Bloomfield, Iowa, allowed me to shadow them to get this inside look. I wanted to know what motivated someone to participate in rodeo, to risk limb, if not life. After all, rodeo can be a dangerous sport, not to mention tiring and expensive. Was it fame they were after? No. Fortune? Again, no. What I discovered was a great pride in accomplishment, camaraderie, good sportsmanship, a family environment, and a caring for animals. People were doing this to challenge themselves and have fun at the same time.

Some protest rodeos claiming it's harmful to animals and their welfare. That's an ethical and philosophical dilemma that I cannot begin to resolve, but I will say that the animals I saw were well respected and well treated. For many, like the Davises, their horses are part of the family.

This photo essay shows the multi-generational aspect of rodeo, its connecdtion to everyday life and the closeness of family. This rodeo lasted 3 days, but for most of the people there, rodeo is in their blood everyday.

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  • The Davis family of Iowa. Father Dan Davis, mother Jessica, oldest son Dexter (15 yr.), Jaxson (13 yr.), and Dawson (10 yr.). Dexter sits atop his horse Little Bit, while Dawson sits on Curly, his father's horse.
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  • A horse in the afternoon sun.
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  • Dan, Jessica, and Dexter cool off in their trailer a few hours before the Friday evening events begin. While Jessica doesn't compete in rodeo, she does ride. The family owns 11 horses and attends nearly 30 rodeos a year, about half of which are in Iowa.
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  • Jaxson, in foreground, practices his calf roping on a wooden dummy while his brother  Dawson practices roping a dummy calf in the background. The trailer park is filled with kids and family and horses and trucks coming and going. Jaxson's ties are very quick.
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  • Dawson throws the rope toward a calf dummy. At 10 years old, he competes in break away calf roping, like his two brothers.
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  • Dan pauses outside his trailer in the setting sun as he gets ready to walk to the barn to get his horse for the opening ceremony on Friday night. The family farms in Bloomfield, Iowa, where they grow corn, soybeans, and hay and raise beef cattle as well.
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  • Opening ceremony. Dan's father is in the foreground, Jessica to the left. The Davis family farms across the road from Dan's parents. Dan's father used to breed, train and show cutting horses, making horses a multi-generational hobby that will likely be carried on with the boys and their children.
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  • Sunset, and the rodeo begins. Dexter rides behind a girl, talking and laughing. It's a serene moment, and it's obvious they love what they do.
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  • A cowboy dismounts behind a horse with a  braided mane
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  • Dexter sits atop his horse, Little Bit, talking with friends and watching the goings-on. Dexter has been doing rodeo since he was 8 years old. When asked why he does it, he replied that he liked horses and working with them.
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  • Jessica watches her husband and son compete from the bleachers. A friendly girl shares a secret with her.
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  • Still chatting with friends, Dexter waits out the sun as it sinks. The competition is about to begin.
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  • Jaxson, in the middle, has discussions with friends perched atop the rail close to where the riders wait for their run in the arena.
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  • Dan visits with his parents.
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  • A young boy excitedly shows his rope to his mother.
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  • Dawson walks the sidelines with his rope, practicing as he goes. Only Dexter and Dan are competing this year. Dawson and Jaxson did not make the finals.
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  • Dawson proudly displays his boots.
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  • 2012 was a big year for the Davis family. Dawson took honors in goat tying for his age that year.
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  • Dan and Jessica take a moment to discuss the schedule for the weekend. Dan spent most of his time helping riders in the arena or preparing for his event.
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  • Jaxson, shirt tucked in now, still on the rail chatting with a friend as the evening wears on.
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  • Dawson takes a break after getting some money from his mother to visit the concession stand.
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  • Dan helps Dexter prepare for the break away calf-roping event.
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  • Saddled and ready, Dexter rides into the arena still practicing with his rope. He's up soon.
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  • Dexter will have one run Friday night, another Saturday night, and one Sunday afternoon. In break-aways roping, the rider ropes the calf at a run, but then the rope breaks aways from the saddle and the calf runs free. Dexter is 15 years old, at the age where this is the last time he can compete in this event. Next year, he'll move up to calf-roping, where he'll have to quickly dismount after roping the calf and run out to tie it up. Dexter has a good throw here.
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  • Unfortunately, the throw is off just enough for the calf to run free.
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  • Dawson draws a crowd of mostly girls as the rodeo plays on. He seems to have a charm about him that others can't resist. His mother is behind him.
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  • Dan prepares to compete in the over 40 calf-roping event. In rodeo since he was in junior high, Dan was champion in 2012, a hard act to follow. He is standing in first place going into the competition tonight. In this photo, Dan roughs up the stirrup with his pocket knife so it won't be so slippery on his boot.
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  • A young cowgirl watches from the top rail.
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  • Dan mentally prepares; it's nearly time. He used to do pro-rodeo from 1990-2004, so he's not an amateur. And he's never sustained much in the way of injury.
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  • Dan signals to let the calf loose, then he takes off at a run, rope swinging overhead.
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  • Finished with the tie, Dan throws up his arms to show the judges he's done and the timer can stop. He finishes second this night.
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  • The rope is kept in its circular box, called a rope can, when not in use.
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  • Being the 2012 champion, everyone knew  Dan was the one to watch this weekend.
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  • Dan Davis
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  • A young cowboy stares off, mentally preparing for what lies ahead.
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  • Getting ready for their events, the cowboys adjust their saddles and ready for their event, which will last only a few seconds.
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  • Dan, Dexter (right), Dawson (center left), and Jaxson (far left)
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  • Jaxson Davis, cowboy
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  • Jaxson's buckle shows his pride
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  • A freak accident while practicing one day leaves behind a rope burn, perhaps even a scar, on Dawson's neck.
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  • The love and care Dexter shows Little Bit is obvious: a braided mane and tail, attention to grooming, the way he handles him. The bond between rider and horse is strong.
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  • Dexter's buckle says it all--2011 break-away champ.
    Rodeo_42.jpg
  • Jeans and boots, a cowboy's essentials.
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  • Taping the wrist of a bull rider before the big event.
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  • Sunday afternoon, a young cowboy prepares for a bull ride by taping up his thigh.
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  • Dan with Curly, an 11 year-old mare who nearly falls asleep at his touch.
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  • Sunday morning, Dan and Dexter ride into the arena for the last day's opening ceremony.
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  • The opening riders and flags of Sunday's events.
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  • One cowboy remains kneeled after the opening national anthem, his head and heart raised to God for a good run and a safe return.
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  • Ready and waiting for their event, the young men watch their friends compete.
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  • It's tough to hang on to a bucking horse, but this young man did his best.
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  • Young viewer
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  • A cowboy with a neck pillow to prevent injury during his time atop a bucking horse.
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  • Doing what it takes to make the ride.
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  • Dan has a quick talk with Dexter before Dexter's event.
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  • Dexter is off and running on his last run of the weekend competition.
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  • The rope encircles the calf, but the loop is too big and the calf runs through it.
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  • Dexter never showed any emotion about missing the calf on Friday night or Sunday afternoon. He is always quiet, always with a smile. Here, he takes time after his event to watch others.
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  • Attention is demanded and all heads turn at a run.
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  • An elderly couple watches the rodeo from their lawn chairs with an umbrella for shade.
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  • A horse waits for its owner to return.
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  • This horse didn't want to be ridden. Here, it rears in the pen, the rider barely able to hold on.
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  • This cowboy grips the reins as if his life depended on it just before the gate is opened and the horse begins bucking.
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  • After competing in the Over 40 calf-roping event, this cowboy finds some shades and sits down on his rope can, exhausted. Sweat saturates his shirt and drips from him.
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  • Cowboys line the top rail of the arena where riders inside wait to run.
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  • Everyone is a spectator
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  • Jaxson watches his father, who is ready to ride his last event of the weekend. Dexter gazes out into the arena.
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  • Dan's third and final run for the weekend.
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  • Dan makes the tie quickly.
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  • A fellow cowboy gives Dan congratulations on his time, which was second best that day.
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  • One of the bull riders takes time for his son after his event.
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  • Barrel racing is a big event for the women. The speed is incredible, and so are the riders and their horses.
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  • A sharp turn without knocking over the barrel means always being in control of an animal that weighs over a thousand pounds, and hanging on.
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  • Jesus saves -- an essential motto for a rodeo cowboy.
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  • The bull was nearly too much for this young man, who staggered away after being thrown and collapsed.
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  • The heat of the day is nearly too much. A shirtless boy digs into a flavored ice.
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  • Chalking up for a grip
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  • He comes out swinging.
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  • As the rodeo carries on and the weekend draws to a close, Dawson and friends play on the sidelines. Here, a friend rides Dawson, pretending he is a bucking horse.
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  • With the weekend over, the Davises pack up their trailer and get ready to head home.
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