I grew up in Fort Worth, Texas. My dad generally wore boots, jeans, and a cowboy hat, even though he wasn’t a rancher. Most of the guys I knew drove pickup trucks. And every year we attended the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo.
Jeff and I have lived in Dallas for almost 40 years now. I haven’t been back to the rodeo in Fort Worth probably since our kids were little. Or before they were born! So long ago that I can’t remember when it was.
Now we have a son and a daughter-in-law who live in Fort Worth. And for Christmas, they gave us a night at the rodeo—with them!
We had such a fun night. Mexican food at the Fort Worth Stockyards, then off to Dickies Arena for the rodeo. This is a far cry from the years I spent sitting in bleachers at Will Rogers Coliseum to watch rodeos in my past. Comfy seats all around. And for the first time in my life, I actually got to wear cowboy boots with my jeans! Yes, last summer I finally got my first pair. I’m hard to fit because of my narrow foot. It’s a long story, but I have some now.
It was the first weekend of the rodeo, which meant it was the Ranch Rodeo finals. This was something I’d never experienced before. This rodeo is real ranchers competing as teams to win both cash and a stock trailer for their ranch. This included events like Wild Cow Milking—which was hilarious!, Double Mugging—much like calf roping, Vet—which required culling out a certain calf from the herd, Bronc Riding, and Barrel Racing. No bull riding, but my son and dil are going back this week for a whole night of just bull riding!
We were there on the final night, so it was fun to watch the champions get their prize. It was also fun that one of the ranches competing in it was the Drummond Land and Cattle Company. Yep, that Drummond, as in Ree and Ladd. IYKYK
We rounded out the weekend with church, then brunch at the wonderful Bowie Hotel in Fort Worth.
It was fun to embrace my inner cowgirl and revisit the past, but even better was just spending time with our grown-up kids. It’s such a blessing when you like the people you raised–and the people they’ve married!
When was the last time you attended a rodeo? Professional? Local? Ranch rodeo? What’s your favorite event?
I got won ticket to the PBR in Las Vegas!
So much fun! I love to watch the bull riders, yes sometimes I cheer for the bulls!
So fun! What an experience!
I think I last went many years ago. I like to watch barrel racing. Pig racing is kind of neat, too. The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame in Ft. Worth is so great! I purchased a pair of boots a week ago. I enjoyed looking at the store.
Ft. Worth has a lot of fun stuff – like the Water Gardens, Kimball Art Museum, Joe T. Garcia’s, Sid Richardson Museum (has some Remington art, and it’s free).
Yes, I love Fort Worth so much. It was a great place to grow up and for my kids to experience when my parents still lived there. So much to do!
I have never attended a rodeo, but think it would be a fun thing to do.
(PS: I have two pairs of cowboy boots and wear them with jeans and some dresses all the time.)
If you ever get a chance, you should go! Even the smaller ones are really fun.