Rounding up some fun
Annual Dayton Rodeo action appeals to all ages
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DAYTON -- Stetson Spangler, 11, of Farnhamville, was only missing one important piece of cowboy gear Saturday night as he hung out with his family on the hill at the 89th annual Dayton Labor Day Rodeo.
A proper pair of boots.
Instead, while relaxing and waiting to compete in the miniature bull riding, he stayed comfortable in a pair of Crocs.
So do real cowboys wear those?
"They sure do," Spangler said.
He's competed before. He was confident he could stay on for the full 8 seconds.
The secret to that?
"Keep your legs tight and maintain your balance," he said.
Also in the audience waiting for a turn at the Mutton Bustin' was Bexkhym Hagert, 5, of Remsen. He had all his gear on, including a pair of leather chaps.
His mom, Cotton Hagert, looked on with pride.
"He also just likes to dress up," she said.
Does a parent get nervous knowing their child is going in the ring?
"We have a motto to it," she said. "If he's not nervous, then we're not nervous."
All that rodeo action is announced by Boyd Polhamus, of Sparta, Wisconsin. He works on horseback and has for most of his long career.
He looks at his voice as a blessing.
"That's a praise God thing," Polhamus said. "You can get a lot at Walmart, but you can't get a voice."
Jillian Matton, 15, of Harcourt, is a member of the Dayton Wranglers Saddle Club. She was spending the evening on Chief, volunteering as a flag carrier.
"I'm doing the NEW Coop one," Matton said.
She was working on trying to tie a top knot on Chief's head before the show started.
"He'll for sure be glammin' it," she joked. "He will strut his stuff."
Roger Frazier, of West Minster, California, was one of the many fans who got the impression the steps up the hill on the grounds had either gotten steeper or had more added. Nothing has changed, but Saturday night was hot and humid. A family member fanned him with the program.
"It's worse," Frazier joked. "I'm telling you."
Once he caught his wind, he was looking forward to the mutton bustin' and spending time with his family.
Kelsie Lovell, of Altoona, brought a portable fan to deal with the heat. She was expecting the device to work all evening and not quit on her.
"It's got an 18-hour battery," Lovell said. "That's not happening."
Kain Mendez, 11, of Dayton, answered the question of whether or not real cowboys wear pink cowboy hats.
He did, and it suited him well.
"I just really like it." Mendez said. "I bought it for myself; it was $20. It's comfy."