A massive winter storm threatens to freeze out rodeos, but the cowboy spirit finds ways to compete, even embracing the elements.
A winter storm is blanketing the lower half of the United States with freezing temperatures and a high threat of lasting ice and power outages. As predictions cause alarm, the questions remain about how widespread the effect will be.
For the cowboy community, the preparation is half the battle. Ensuring livestock have access to water that isn’t frozen, shelter, and forage is just the beginning. Many rodeo competitors depend on the opportunity to compete and earn paychecks and have their calendar carefully scheduled around which rodeos they will attend to both earn and qualify for year-end standings. If rodeos are canceled, so is their chance at taking home that week's bill money and representing their sponsors.
The rodeo producers are aware of this, and work to make sure the rodeo goes on no matter what. However, they never want to endanger the contestants, stock contractors, personnel, or livestock themselves, and sometimes there is no choice but to cancel.
A great example comes in the Fort Worth Stock Show that has been happening in Texas this past week. In the history of the event, it has only been canceled twice, one due to WWII and the other time due to COVID. And that’s since 1896! When asked about the impending weather, the leadership team has been able to reassure the public that the majority of events are indoors and the livestock are kept in a climate-controlled building. With the long history of the event and its constant wintertime presentation, they are used to dealing with Mother Nature, and have reserves of sand and salt to keep the walkways and parking lots clear.
The majority of indoor rodeos nationwide are following this format, although if large accumulations of snow and ice occur, some may be forced to cancel if contestants aren’t able to travel to get there. At a certain point, roads become impassable and airlines cancel flights and there is no other option but to wait for it all to blow over. Part of the Cinch’s World’s Toughest Rodeo Tour has been rescheduled ahead of time. Most of these contestants travel significant distances to the location they are competing in (this weekend’s example of Raleigh, NC) and so having the rodeo continue as planned could endanger them and the large crowd it draws.
There are alternative western events like Skijoring that embrace this cold weather. In this team event, a cowboy will race across the winter ground and pull a skier behind them in an incredible display of trust, timing, speed, and athleticism. And of course, there’s always the backyard rodeos for those who have a cold backed horse–literally.
While the weather forecasters work hard to try and keep everyone informed, only time will tell what the country is really in for. One thing is certain: the rodeo and ranching community will come together and help each other out. There’s always a neighbor waiting to lend a hand and nobody ever has to walk through struggles alone in the tight-knit western community.