Rodeo brings large crowd
The stands were nearly full Friday night at the Cache County Fairgrounds as 12 colleges from Idaho and Utah competed in bull riding, calf roping and other events.
Nearly 1,000 people came out to support Utah State University’s rodeo club at their home competition. It was an energetic crowd that cheered for the successes and for those who tried. Some just were unlucky when the rope missed or they fell off before their eight seconds.
Jeff “Doc” Hall, a faculty member, teacher and veterinarian at USU, is the coach for the rodeo club. He said he was pleased with how many people came to the rodeo, considering there was also a USU hockey game the same night.
“College rodeos typically don’t draw a large crowd,” Hall said.
Hall has been the rodeo club coach for more than six years. He said he’s rodeoed competitively for 19 years.
Kristan Gibbs, a junior majoring in agriculture business, competed in barrel racing Friday night.
“I thought it was a good rodeo and a good crowd,” Gibbs said.
Gibbs said she has always liked the rodeo because of the family atmosphere it provides. She has been barrel racing since high school.
Jamie Cox, from Kimberly, Idaho, was the rodeo clown for Friday’s performance. He has been a rodeo clown for more than 10 years. His job was mostly for the bull-riding event where he kept the bull distracted while the rider got back on his feet.
“I also try to make the bull buck so the rider can get a higher score,” Cox said.
During the bull riding, Cox would dance around right next to the bull while it was trying to throw off the rider. This can be a dangerous job. Last year, he said his face was stepped on by a full-size bull and his jaw had to be wired shut until it healed.
In past years, there has been controversy over rodeos from animal rights groups. As a veterinarian, he said he sees both sides of the argument.
He said if a person is caught using anything sharp on the animals, they are disqualified or fined. The spurs used are not sharp and wouldn’t hurt the skin on his own arm, he said.
Cox said rodeo animals are treated with more respect than range animals; everything gets fed and the stock always takes priority.
“They do their job twice a week,” Hall said. “And they enjoy it.”
He gave examples of livestock that refused to eat after being taken out of rodeos.
Tyler Cunz, a senior majoring in business administration and a member of the rodeo club, said he appreciated all the students who came out. Cunz could not compete because he is healing from when he tore a tendon in his finger while calf roping at a pro rodeo this past summer.
Cunz grew up around rodeos and said it becomes a lifestyle.
“It is the best sporting event,” he said.
After the performance ended, the rodeo continued in what is called slack, where all competitors get a chance to be judged and qualified. Sara Sulser, a junior majoring in accounting and president of the club, said the slacks can go as late as 1 a.m.
-joelfeathers@cc.usu.edu