Woop it Up at the Payson Rodeo

Every third weekend in August, you can trust that there’ll be ropin’, dancin’ and barrel racin’ in the town of Payson, Arizona to celebrate their annual rodeo.  This year, Payson celebrates their 126^th edition of the World’s Oldest Continues Rodeo, a historical claim that they make against other rodeos in the PRCA Rodeo tour.

It’s a wonderful way to take a break from Valley heat and soak up good old fashioned Americana where cowboys reign supreme and cowgirls hold their own with champion heart pounding barrel racing.

Although barrel racing may look less harrowing than some other rodeo events, it certainly is not for the faint-hearted. These rodeo queens have the horsemanship skills and competitive drive in this fast and furious event that makes it a crowd favorite.

In the team roping event, two ropers, a “header” and a “heeler”, work together to catch a steer. The header is the first cowboy out of the box. He may rope the steer around the head and one horn, around the neck or around both horns, which are specially wrapped for the event. After making his catch, the header rides to the left, taking the steer in tow. The heeler moves in and ropes both hind legs. The clock is stopped when the slack has been taken out of both ropes and the contestants are facing each other.

Certainly another crowd favorite, mutton bustin’ is similar to bull riding but is only for the little ones, age 6 years and younger.  They have only to last 6 seconds on a sheep that’s as unpredictable as a bull.  You have to admire the moxie and fearlessness of these future cowboys.

It seems that no one escapes the wrath of the angry bulls.  The toughest just may be the rodeo clowns who put themselves in the way of the bulls as a diversion to harming any of the competitors.  Did they lose a bet or are like everyone else in the rodeo; in it for the thrill.

When you’re not watching the cowboys battle it out in the rodeo arena, explore the outdoor adventures in and around Payson.  At 5,000 feet elevation there’s plenty to do.  Visit Tonto Natural Bridge, hike the Mogollon Rim or cool off in watering holes like Hell’s Gate or Water Wheel, no spurs necessary.

All photos courtesy of Dennis K. Fendler.