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Small-town Rodeo Tour: Evergreen, Colorado
By Julie Maheu
Photos by Heidi Nyland
June 2003 -- Nearly 4,000 rodeo fans traveled up Route I-70 for the 37th Annual Evergreen
Rodeo held in Evergreen, CO. Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association
contestants from across the country competed in bull riding, steer wrestling,
calf roping, barrel racing, and bronc riding. The small rodeo, set
within the majestic Rockies, boasts great scenery and some of the best rodeo
stock in the West. Stock ridden and roped during the rodeo traveled on to
larger rodeos like Cheyenne Frontier Days later in the summer. Here, you'll
see a collection of photos from the event. You're invited to tour the grounds.
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The Evergreen Rodeo
grounds hold one of the last wooden rodeo facilities in the country. The
mountains are the perfect backdrop for the rodeo's timed-event chutes.
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Melissa
Ann Pfaff, 19, of Broomfield, CO, was named 2003 Miss Evergreen Rodeo
Queen. She represents the Evergreen Rodeo until the 2004 queen, Jolene
Mohr, picks up the reins. |
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Thanks to strict safety guidelines
and careful cowboy preparation, no animals were injured and only one contestant
walked away with minor injuries.
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Mike Cervi of Sterling,
CO, provided stock for the event. Many say he's the number one stock contractor
in the country--also providing cattle and bucking stock for larger rodeos
such as the Greeley Independence Day Stampede. |
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Rodeo Clown Kevin Higley's painted face is a familiar part of
the rodeo. When he is not working a rodeo, he raises bucking horses
at his ranch in Utah.
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Bareback Rider Neil Call of Craig, CO, holds on tight
as his mount Sting Ray gets ready for a big buck.
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Brian Wise of Riverton, WY,
gives a good performance upon Super Man Justin.
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Evergreen residents await the
annual event--town streets are crowded with people anxious to see the pre-rodeo
parade. Families share in the festivities--attending barbecues and private
parties before the big event.
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Ann Peterson, a Barrel Racer
from Avondale, CO, tries to beat the clock in her race on the first day
of the rodeo.
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Dressed officially in their
striped vests and prepared with bright orange flags, two PRCA judges
meet to review scores following the day's competition.
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Julie Maheu is an editorial intern at Horse &
Rider in Golden, Colorado. She studies journalism at the University
of Colorado, Boulder. Maheu is a long-time dressage rider, writer, and photographer.
Heidi Nyland is assistant editor at Horse & Rider. At Ohio Wesleyan University, Nyland was president (and later assistant coach) of the IHSA equestrian team. In journalism graduate school at Ohio University, Nyland helped professors train their trail
mounts. She is currently the riding coach for the Equilite 4-H Club in Jefferson
County, Colorado.
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