I had been eyeing the Black Hills Roundup as something to do over the Independence Day holiday. I don't particularly like late nights, and Belle Fourche (pronounced foosh) is a little over an hour away. The rodeo on the last day of the roundup is held in the afternoon. I wasn't sure I cared for being out in the heat, but we decided to go anyway.
We went early enough to watch the parade through town. Governor Noem and Lt. Governor Rhoden were near the front as well as Miss South Dakota. We both found it interesting that Belle Fourche High School had several floats of alumni classes in the parade. It's a big weekend for reunions. Horses, not tractors, took center stage in this area. We saw a couple of horse-driven stagecoaches as well as a hearse. Here's a hint for those participating in parades on a hot day. Forget the candy, go for a watergun!
After a lunch at a local burger joint where we chatted with BFHS 1982 alumni, we headed to the fairgrounds. We had purchased front row seats for the rodeo. Oh yeah! We could hear the snorts from the horses and the thundering of the hooves. What a way to celebrate America. I can't imagine the long hours, the determination, the dedication, the falls, and the injuries it takes for these cowboys and cowgirls to do what they do. We were impressed. Chances are good that we'll be back another year. Great faces, great places - just like the South Dakota tourism advertises.
 |
| Not too many of these around unless you're in Amish country |
 |
| Gotta smile! |
 |
| It's a ... |
 |
| Not sure who had more fun |
 |
| Yep, those are real |
No comments:
Post a Comment