The smell of livestock and the dustiness of sand was felt throughout Ford Park as cowboys prepared to put on a show at the annual South Texas State Fair rodeo, March. 23.
The rodeo showcases many of the country’s top cowboys and cowgirls, some as young as 12-years-old. Activities such as roping, bull riding, and horse riding were part of the show.
Jace Dylan traveled from Lake Charles, La. to compete in horse riding.
“I love it, I wasn’t raised up in it and I just love it,” Dylan said. “I had a dream of wanting to be a cowboy. Nobody in my family did it. I just one day went and entered in a rodeo, had no idea what I was doing, and now I’m here.”
The origins of rodeo can be traced to the Spanish conquistadors and Spanish-Mexican settlers who brought horses and livestock to the Southwest in the 16th century. Cowboys began to compete against each other, and it eventually became the rodeo. Two of the earliest rodeos were held in Texas in 1883 in Pecos.
Unlike Dylan, Bedias, Texas native McCray Profilly said he started rodeoing at a young age.
“I grew up in it,” Profilly said. “My whole family kind of did it. My older brother does it. So, I just kind of took a liking to it at a young age and made it my profession.”
Profilly said he loves the competition and the whole environment that surrounds the rodeo. And the South Texas State Fair is close to home.
“It’s always a good rodeo, good environment,” he said. “And we like to chase the money and chase the crowds.”
Human cowboys weren’t the only ones riding. The arena was filled with laughter as fans watched monkeys riding dogs.
But it was the real cowboys who drew the most attention. Cole Ford, who hails from Sulphur, Louisiana, is another who follows the family tradition.
“My great grandfather trained roping horses,” Ford said. “He made the (Nationals Finals Rodeo) and my grandpa rode. My dad, my whole family done it. So, I just fell right into it.”
