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Nebraskans who don’t know better think their state is kind of a heavy hitter in the rodeo world. I know better. The reason I know rodeo holds token status at best in Nebraska is because I …
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Nebraskans who don’t know better think their state is kind of a heavy hitter in the rodeo world. I know better. The reason I know rodeo holds token status at best in Nebraska is because I learned better during the years we lived in northwest Wyoming.
My camera and I dabbled in capturing rare Nebraska rodeo action before I joined the Powell Tribune staff; dabbled just enough to become interested, but without adequate opportunity to get good at it. But then, oh mama, did I get practice out your way.
Coach Del Nose was wonderful to work with as I covered the outstanding Trapper rodeo program and the Cody Nite was a treasure trove for learning. As my skill evolved, I began to pay attention to more than just the riding and roping and racing. Images like this one, a favorite, began to emerge. It’s a behind-the-scenes, pensive study of Wade Sankey booting up for a rough stock trip in September 2003.
One rodeo in Cowley was especially wild because the stock had no clue what was going on. More than one horse broke from the chute, charged across the arena and crashed blindly at full speed into the arena fence in front of the grandstand. Officials had the devil’s own time getting them back in the pens. One gutsy, or possibly judgment-challenged contestant, ended up trapped beneath his upside-down, flailing mount. Offered a re-ride he climbed aboard a second green beast. Unbelievably, the exact same thing happened again when clueless, psycho horse No. 2 went over backward on top of him. Would he like a second re-ride, the judges asked? Spine still more or less miraculously intact apparently, he nodded yes. Of course he did. Thus did his third draw break from the chute. But this trip went better. In fact our hero, by now slathered teeth to toes in arena dirt and pungent effluent, won the gall dang rodeo.
What a bizarre night that one was for a corn country poser.
Cody Stampede PRCA performances every July 4 holiday were a special treat, especially daytime slack under abundant light. Hanging out behind the chutes with the best-of-the-best in the world — the guys I watched in the NFR (looking at you Etbauer brothers, Beau LeDoux and so many others) — left this journalist a little star-struck. The bullfighters (looking at you Donny Sparks and Rob Smets) were household names in their own right. Contestant or bullfighter or barrel man (looking at you Butch Lehmkuhler who was born in Arnold, Nebraska, by the way) mattered not; every single one was personable and approachable. Not a prima donna in the bunch.
Since returning to Nebraska nearly two decades ago, I have photographed as much rodeo as I could dredge up. A nearby, multi-performance annual PRCA in Hastings for one in addition to several state high school finals. Even took first place in the action sports photo competition of the Nebraska Press Association one year for a crazy shot of a high school rider and his bull soaring unattached, side-by-side over the arena floor … butts up.
This entire summer exactly two chances present themselves. Two. That’s it. Cripes, sometimes I’d shoot more rodeo than that in a single Wyoming week. Thank goodness I still have all the wonderful memories and for that, Wyoming, I say thanks.
