Georgia National Rodeo attracts sellout crowd

PERRY — “When I grow up I want to be a cowboy. I want to ride my horse and rope cows from his back in the rodeo.”

For generations those words echoed through the minds of the young and the young at heart. Western movies and television series brought glimpses of that lifestyle to the world from the early 1950s to the early 1970s, when so-called “oaters” were the most popular genre of entertainment in the United States.

Remember “The Lone Ranger” … “True Grit” … “Gunsmoke” … “Bonanza?”

Maybe you don’t, but a lot of people obviously look back longingly at those days gone by. That is why events like the Georgia National Rodeo, held recently in Perry at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter, sell out year after year.

Cowboys and cowgirls from all over the United States ride in the national finals in Perry. These are the same riders who ride in Las Vegas and in other world-class events. They came to Georgia hoping to be the a finalist in their event.

Many of the competitors who took part in the rodeo have been riding since they were preschool-age toddlers; although some found that Western magic later in life. Shane Proctor, who earned Best All-Around Cowboy at the Perry event, is from Coulee, Wash., and started riding in junior rodeo events at the age of 5. The talented bull and bronc rider and has competed in 48 of 50 states.

Professional rodeo is big business. The competitors, the stock suppliers, rodeo talent, equipment suppliers, event coordinators and sponsors all rely heavily on the continued success of the sport.

According to the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, rodeo as entertainment peaked in the 1990s. Attendance and the number of rodeo events declined steadily for years until recently. In 2016, the number of events and the attendance numbers began to rise. Rodeo promoters attribute the rise to sponsor and PRCA activity that draws their customer base to watch.

Truck manufacturers, recreational vehicle dealers, beer-makers, boots and clothing companies heavily sponsor rodeo events to reach America’s working-class heroes. Prize money has increased for the competitors due to more sponsor involvement. Entertainment by big country music artists and top-notch rodeo entertainers have also increased the draw of fans.

At the Perry event, top rodeo entertainer and fifth-generation horse trainer Rider Kiesner displayed the the arts of trick roping, gun spinning and whip-cracking, entertaining a sold out crowd. As always, the rodeo clowns added levity to tough, challenging bull and bronc riding.

The competition events during the Georgia National Rodeo were steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie down roping, barrel racing, and bull riding.

The rodeo is an all-ages event with something for everyone in the family. In 2019 the wonder in the faces of the attendees mirrored their ancestors from generations long past. Times have changed and technology has grown, but many still just want to ride, ride, ride and leave the world’s troubles behind.