Crowds saddle up for rodeo entertainment

Cowboys riding bulls and roping steers may have been the main attractions at the Lynden Rodeo Friday, Aug. 22, but there was plenty of other entertainment for the approximately 4,000 people who attended.

The Cowboy Gift and Trade Show, a Boundary Bay Brewery beer garden and plenty of food kept the crowds captivated before the rodeo began.

Once 7:30 p.m. rolled around, though, all eyes turned to the rodeo, where rodeo clown J.J. Harrison had people laughing and cheering at his antics.

The rodeo had eight competitions: bareback bronc riding, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding, mutton busting, team roping, barrel racing and bull riding.

The rodeo is one of hundreds that are part of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and are held all over the U.S.

Mike Beers, of Post, Ore., was one of the first cowboys out the gate. He participated in the team roping competition with his son, Brandon. Two cowboys on horseback try to rope a steer around the horns and the legs in the fastest time possible.

Beers, who has been to the national finals 24 times, said the tough competition featured in the Lynden rodeo made him want to come here.

"It's going to be tough with the teams that are up here," Beers said. "It's a pretty tough rodeo, but (the organizers) have done a good job. They get great crowds."

Henry P. Tjoelker was at the event displaying an antique sled that was used to deliver people and mail in the Yukon Territory in Canada in the early 1900s.

Tjoelker said his son owns the sled, but he restored it by repairing its undercarriage.
The sled is a rarity: Tjoelker said it's one of three still in existence and the only one fully restored.

"It's just another job done," Tjoelker said. "I can do another if I like. I've done restoration work all my life."

How Manly Is Rodeo Anyway?

"It's bad enough that adult animals are groped and abused at the rodeo, but it’s even more sinister that the young ones get beaten as well. Like any infant, a baby cow would much rather be nuzzled up safely next to his mother but cowboys put him in a tiny pen and poke, prod and kick him until he runs across the arena in fear for his life. His little heart pounds in terror as he runs to what he desperately hopes will be safety, but within seconds a lasso constricts around his neck, his tongue flies out of his mouth and he gasps for air as the rope begins to squeeze. He is then grabbed and hoisted into the air, only to be thrown to the ground with a rib-cracking thump. Mr. Marlborough with the sparkly belt buckle then ties his little legs and like a schoolyard bully who has just bloodied the nose of a timid child he raises his arms in the air as though his act of cruelty is worthy of applause and admiration. I don't get it. When did beating a baby animal become a sign of manliness?

You’d think one man beating on a calf would be bad enough, but there is also the team roping event. It's just as pathetic and inhumane as the singles event, but the cowboys get to pair up with their good buddy and do everything short of tear the little cow in half.

How is that family entertainment?

The idea of beating up gentle cows doesn't appeal to everyone so rodeo organizers thought it would be a good idea to bring in sheep. Nice, soft gentle sheep. For a small fee you can plop your child down on the back of a fluffy sheep and take pictures as the scared little creature tries her best to buck, or even walk with the weight of a child on her sore and tired back. There's a picture for the family album. Junior, who we hope will grow up to be a respected and contributing member of society, is being taught that it is acceptable to exploit anything or anyone who is weaker than him."

Rodeo future in doubt following animal rights pressure

A rodeo in north-west Victoria is in doubt because of pressure from animal rights groups.
The Merbein rodeo was held for the first time in 50 years last year, and was supported by bank sponsorship.

But the bank has pulled its funding, saying the rodeo clashes with its association with the RSPCA.
If the rodeo doesn't get extra funding by the end of the week, it'll be cancelled.

President of the rodeo committee, Bill Crosbie, doesn't think the animal rights argument stands up.

"No, no, it's a lot of hooey. I think, or I don't think, I know, in the years that I've been going to rodeo, that covers fifty years, I suppose I wouldn't have seen half a dozen horses or cattle hurt," he says.

"But I've seen a lot of fellas walking around in wheelchairs or crutches."