Hey Everybody!
Welcome to my first blog! It’ll be interesting to see how
this goes. First, I’ll give you a little bit of information about myself and
why I decided to pick the topic of rodeo. My name is Emily Engelhard and I am
currently majoring in Agribusiness and minoring in Agricultural Communication
at North Dakota State University in Fargo,
North Dakota. I am originally from the very small town of Berthold located in
north central North Dakota. The family farm/ranch I grew up on taught me
innumerable life lessons that I still carry with me today. This is also where
my deep love of rodeo and all things horses first began. I have been riding since
I was 3 years old and participating in rodeo, particularly barrel racing, since I was 10 years old. I guess
you could say it’s a topic I’m very passionate about!
Heartbreaking, expensive, and a TON of work; why would
anyone ever want to participate in a sport like that? Horseback riding is in the top ten
most dangerous sports in the world and is responsible for the most traumatic
brain injuries of any recreational sport (“Most
Dangerous,” 2013). Now add speed, ropes, metal barrels, horns and hooves. Things can definitely get a little crazy! Some competitors are adrenaline junkies, like the bull
and bronc
riders, and some are just out there for fun. Rodeo contestants find a thrill in
competing with another living, breathing being. The challenge of working with
an animal until you become a team that trusts and relies on each other, or
turning bronc and bull riding into an artform are what attract people to this
wonderful sport. In my eyes, the rewards far outweigh the possible risks!
Although it has been enjoyed for decades, the first
professionally sanctioned rodeo took place in Prescott, Arizona on the 4th
of July, 1888 (Anderson
& Freeman, 2010). It is something that brings families together and is
passed down from generation to generation. The rodeo community has truly been a
second family to me and I want to share my experiences with you. The purpose of
this blog will be to provide some insight into the sport of rodeo and the industry that
surrounds it. Some of the aspects to this sport are very misunderstood. I will
be discussing some of the controversial topics, such as animal rights,
throughout the duration of this blog. I also plan on talking about the history of
rodeo, the rules and goals of each event, and some of the most prominent athletes to
compete. New technology that benefits human and animal athletes will also be
discussed.
Well, I hope that you enjoy the upcoming posts and learn a
little something, too. Feel free to ask me any questions! I look forward to
sharing my knowledge as well as my research with all of you.
See you next time!
Emily Engelhard
