Photos by Nathan Limbach
A late-summer rodeo in a small town in the western United States presents an atmosphere distinct from anywhere else in the world. Interior, South Dakota, in the middle of the Badlands, hosts the state’s oldest rodeo each year. As evening approaches, anticipation builds while families arrive in pickup trucks and form a circle around the ring. Bulls and broncos wait in close quarters, occasionally jostling for position. Meanwhile, participants, some barely out of high school, and others with boots older than that, methodically prepare their gear, brushing down their chaps and taping wrists and shoulders that remain sore from prior competitions.
At 5 o’clock, the PA system crackles on, an auctioneer signals the commencement of the auction, conducted in the style of a traditional Calcutta. Well-known within horse racing and golf events like member-guests, this format allows individuals or syndicates to purchase riders for each event, including bareback riding, rookie and veteran categories, saddle bronc riding, bull riding, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, team roping, as well as barrel racing and breakaway roping for female competitors. The auction is fast and lively, with the locals having their favorites, yelling out ever increasing sums. Distinct from a conventional Calcutta, bidders also have the option to acquire “the bulls;” should no rider remain on a bucking bull for eight seconds, the purchaser of that ticket wins. Thousands of dollars were wagered, owners of the local horse-trailer dealership seem to be the holder of many tickets, hedging their bets.
At this distinctly American event, the flag processional featured the American flag, the South Dakota state flag, and the Lakota Nation flag. Both a Lakota blessing and the Star-Spangled Banner were performed prior to the first riders mounting their horses. Attendees observed a moment of silence to honor both traditions, reflecting the inclusive nature of the location and occasion.
The first event of the evening is rookie bare-back bronco riding. Both the riders and horses are inexperienced, although only the rider is aware of the situation. The broncos responded differently to having a human on their back for the first time: some began bucking on their hind legs, as if they took notes of older horses’ tactics, others leapt into the air with all four hooves off the ground, and one attempted to run toward the mountains to the South of the arena before encountering the edge of the arena and then started bucking forcefully. Kyle Bloomquist, from Raymond, Minnesota, won the night on a horse named Hot Mocha.
The event transitions from participants attempting to remain mounted on animals to the other end of the arena, where cowboys focus on jumping off their horses and wrestling calves and steers. Brian Snell was required to dismount from a running horse and wrangle a steer within five seconds to secure victory, surpassing his closest competitor by more than a second.
The action doesn’t stop when the arena lights flare on around 7pm. The light cast is a nostalgic glow unlike the modern fluorescent or LED lighting found in most modern sporting venues. The sun wanes over the rough landscape of Badlands National Park, just a few miles North and US Highway 44 stretching West, giving the young riders both glaring natural and unnatural light to contend with.
With the sun fully set, the mountains disappear and more stars than I’ve ever seen start popping out, the cowgirls take over the arena. Instead of attempting to hold onto unruly animals, barrel racing and breakaway roping are the names of the game. These women race on the backs of highly trained horses at breakneck speed, make a 90-degree angle pivot, complete a figure-eight, continue up the arena tying a bow on the run and sprint to the finish. All the competitors were within 64/100s of a second between first and eighth place, Emilee Pauley, a local to the Black Hills, took the win at 17.37 seconds.
After leaving the event, I returned to my rental car, passing by the band as they prepared to perform a repertoire ranging from contemporary and old school country to classic rock and select covers of popular hits. As I cleaned dust from my camera, I reflected that few of my normal Saturday nights matched the energy and significance of this one. It is possible that I witnessed one of the early appearances in the minor leagues of rodeo for an emerging star talent. To put a spin on the saying, this may have been my first rodeo, but it won’t be the last.
