Rodeo Summer Series, Pine Bluffs, WY

Nearly every Friday evening throughout the summer, in Pine Bluffs, WY, a very small town about 40 miles east of Cheyenne on the Nebraska border, townspeople gather for the "=G Rodeo Summer Series."  No professionals or PBR riders found here...this is small-town Heartland-of-America competition similar to a Friday night high school football game.  The town "Rodeo Ground" hosts contestants of all ages, from 7-8 years old to middle-aged riders and older, in traditional rodeo events such as bull riding, calf roping, "breakaway roping," and barrel racing.

Here is some of the prime action we witnessed at the rodeo on this evening:









The town Rodeo Grounds are seen below.  Several hundred people gather in the small stands and around the perimeter fence to spectate and support the competitors.  Everyone is dressed in their finest western wear...Wrangler jeans with large rodeo-style belt buckle, dusty cowboy boots, typically a plaid cotton shirt of some sort, and the quintessential cowboy hat.  Very few folks, including women, are found not wearing this wardrobe.  The area surrounding the grounds is filled with big diesel American pickup trucks towing horse trailers and other livestock trailers with animals needed for the events.  It seemed as if their were hundreds of trucks with horse trailers sprawled everywhere, with horses tied off outside trailers, or being ridden around the perimeter warming up for events.

The grain elevator in the background along the heavily-traveled Union Pacific rail line that runs through town, with contestants warming up their horses in the sliver of grass along the tracks.

The Rodeo Grounds and small set of bleachers for spectators, and there is even a very reasonably-priced snack bar a short walk away.

Contestants young and old gather to watch events, support their friends, and prepare for competition.

A shot of the "infield" below as bull riders prepare for what they hope will be an 8-second ride.

Below are some videos of additional events we watched this beautiful Friday evening.

If you are ever in the vicinity of Pine Bluffs, WY, we highly recommend hitting up the =G Rodeo Summer Series on Friday evening.  It is great, inexpensive all-American entertainment in an authentic, rural small-town setting with cowboys and cowgirls competing solely for the fun of it.  It is a stop we are certainly glad we made.