Last night it was bulls and blood, dust and mud - you guessed it - the Strawberry Days rodeo in Pleasant Grove. Many of you probably know that last year I pulled a team together to do the wild cow milking event. We ended up winning the whole thing and we were awarded some prize money and some pretty sweet belt buckles. Well, ever since then, we couldn't wait to sign up and do it again this year. As the reigning champions, we felt we had an obligation to come back and win it again.
Sign ups were the day after Memorial Day. After work, I headed right over to the organizer's house to sign my team up. It turned out that I needed the signatures of each member of my team in order to sign up. So, I had to take the form to work the next day and get everyone's signatures. I had my other team member head back over the organizer's house right after work to turn in our paperwork and sign us up. Well, the last spot had been taken 15 minutes before he got there. I was so disappointed! It was definitely the biggest disappointment of the year for me -- and believe me, I've had some pretty big disappointments.
I tried calling the organizer to talk him into letting us sign up anyway, but no luck. He said it was first come, first serve and there was nothing he could do. I was so stinking mad!
So, last night I went to the rodeo anyway. It was so hard to see the arena, smell the cows and the dirt and know that I was not going to be able to compete. I nearly started crying. I had to try hard to hold back the tears. As soon as they started making the announcement for the wild cow milkers to get ready, my heart started beating faster and my adrenaline started pumping. When the cows were let out of the gates, the entire audience rose to their feet. The cows were especially wild this year and not a single team held on to their ropes. It was quite a sight watching all the teams running around the arena trying to catch their cows. I especially enjoyed watching one guy as he held onto his cow's neck while it drug him clear across the arena. I was so impressed he was able to hang on, even with the cow bucking and running. His team ended up taking first place. I wished so bad I could have been him.
Even though I was unable to compete, it was still great to be at the rodeo. And having Kristin by my side made it even better. I will make sure that we get into the wild cow milking event next year no matter what. I will forge signatures, break legs, hire a hit man -- whatever it takes to get in. And my team will reclaim our title of wild cow milking champions!
Sign ups were the day after Memorial Day. After work, I headed right over to the organizer's house to sign my team up. It turned out that I needed the signatures of each member of my team in order to sign up. So, I had to take the form to work the next day and get everyone's signatures. I had my other team member head back over the organizer's house right after work to turn in our paperwork and sign us up. Well, the last spot had been taken 15 minutes before he got there. I was so disappointed! It was definitely the biggest disappointment of the year for me -- and believe me, I've had some pretty big disappointments.
I tried calling the organizer to talk him into letting us sign up anyway, but no luck. He said it was first come, first serve and there was nothing he could do. I was so stinking mad!
So, last night I went to the rodeo anyway. It was so hard to see the arena, smell the cows and the dirt and know that I was not going to be able to compete. I nearly started crying. I had to try hard to hold back the tears. As soon as they started making the announcement for the wild cow milkers to get ready, my heart started beating faster and my adrenaline started pumping. When the cows were let out of the gates, the entire audience rose to their feet. The cows were especially wild this year and not a single team held on to their ropes. It was quite a sight watching all the teams running around the arena trying to catch their cows. I especially enjoyed watching one guy as he held onto his cow's neck while it drug him clear across the arena. I was so impressed he was able to hang on, even with the cow bucking and running. His team ended up taking first place. I wished so bad I could have been him.
Even though I was unable to compete, it was still great to be at the rodeo. And having Kristin by my side made it even better. I will make sure that we get into the wild cow milking event next year no matter what. I will forge signatures, break legs, hire a hit man -- whatever it takes to get in. And my team will reclaim our title of wild cow milking champions!
9 comments:
I like the story. If you are definitely going to be competing next year, Dave and I will have to come and watch. It was really nice meeting you today. We are looking forward to the boil!
Thanks Lindsay. It was great meeting you and Dave too. Your enchiladas were awesome! I can't wait for my first boil.
Yee-haw!
You're still a champion in my book, cowboy!
Oh sweetie! I know how disappointed you were, but I don't know if I would have been able to watch you out there, I would be way too nervous. Next year for sure! It was great to be by your side too! Muah!
Dubb... Looking good in the cowboy hat. You would fit right in with me and my boys from Star Valley.
Heck with the milking contest... sign up to ride a bull or two.
Dan
Oh the flashback to last year...you, The Indian, and the metro-cowboy chasing your cow. You guys did awesome last year. Too bad you couldn't make it this year :(
Kristin showed me the video of last years wild cow event! I had never heard of it before. That was some crazy stuff. Props to you! Oh by the way, I work with Kristin. . .
Hey it was great to meet you on Sunday! It is fun to read your blog and get to know more about you too! See you on Sunday!!
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