Bristow’s 3 rd Western Heritage Days (and 61 st annual rodeo) that sandwiched one day of fun on Main Street (Route 66) between two nights of cowboy and cowgirl skill and competition in the sports arena on August 18-19, proved that rodeos and street festivals mix well in our home town of Bristow.
Members of Bristow’s Round-Up Club and Bristow West Fest, who planned the rodeo and downtown activities, respectively, were pleased with sponsorship donations, event outcomes, and attendance by 4,500 people.
After kids rode sheep (mutton busting) to kick off Friday and Saturday night’s events, competitive events started as the men tried to hang on to bucking horses and bulls for eight seconds in the Bareback Bronc, Saddle Bronc, and Bull Riding events, respectively.
Cowgirl Barrel Racing for women, juniors (ages 9-14), and pee wees (ages 8 and under) pleased the crowd while they rode their horses around three barrels in a cloverleaf pattern, then raced home.
Less than one second separated the scores of the top three women Barrel Racers: Yolanda Caldwell (first place, 16.689 seconds), Mesa Leavitt (second, 16.788 seconds) and Ashley Sanders (third, 16.925 seconds) Not to be outdone, cowboys galloped their horses to catch calves and steer in the Tie-Down Roping, Steer Wrestling, Team Roping, and Steer Roping events.
Hayden Harris, 24, of Tahlequah, smiled after earning 84 points riding a bucking, turning bull. He won the event, earning $1,454.40. He said bull riding is “all reaction. The best feeling is when you conquer the beast and you step off and everyone is cheering for you.” He added, “Oklahoma is the heart of rodeo. The fans know that too.”
Blane Stacy, of Chelsea, is a three-time ACRA Saddle Bronc champion. A full-time Soil Health Educator for Oklahoma’s Conservation Commission, he found time to compete in 60 rodeos this year. Although he’s broke a shoulder, ribs, an ankle and dislocated a shoulder, “It’s something I enjoy…the community, comradery. I eat this up.” He scored 75 points completing his ride Friday night, winning first place in Saddle Bronc and earning $ 635.04.
Two acts provided entertainment. Patrick Prater from Shidler guided two Texas longhorn steer up a ramp leading to the top of his cattle trailer, then followed them on horseback.
Sixteen-year-old Cheridyn Bateman came back again, wowing everyone with wild west show tricks that included riding on one side of her horse (Apache hideaway), hanging upside down (Cossack suicide drag) and standing on top of her white horse (liberty stand).
On both nights, hundreds of kids ran after chickens, lambs, and pigs in the “Backyard Scramble.”
People attend rodeos for different reasons. For Mason Leaming of Bristow, it’s “the excitement of it. You just get See Rodeo, Page Three a real rugged vibe being out here.”
The Campbells and Hendricks sat together as rodeo families who have come for years. They were waiting for granddaughter, Jacee Williams, to ride in the breakaway roping event, and grandson, Kade Williams, to compete in calf roping.
Rodney Hendricks emphasized, “the rodeo family is tight.”
Big Horn Rodeo Company conducts the rodeo. It is sanctioned by American Cowboy Rodeo Association (ACRA) and the International Professional Rodeo Association ( IPRA).
Rodeos depend on income to operate and pay prize monies. Admission was $10 for adults and $5 for children. Contestants paid between $60 and $410 per event to compete. Payouts for top performers ran between $130 to $ 1,500.
Financial and in-kind donations for the rodeo came from 27 companies and individuals. Lisa Dobson, President of Bristow’s Round-Up Club, highlighted Crown Auto World and Bristow Mayor Kristine Wyatt for their support. She said any net shares go “to the kids [65 members] for awards and helps maintain the arena and leaves some money available for next year to get started.”
Having 3,000 people attend Bristow’s rodeo isn’t a fluke.
The ACRA named the Round-Up Club as 2022’s Rodeo of the Year for District 3. Dobson and Heather Wilson, Vice-President, were grateful for good volunteers like the club’s 12 planning committee members, specifically mentioning Dean Horton and Melissa Merski.
Saturday’s warm sun beamed on hundreds who came to watch the downtown parade at 10:00 a.m., with 30 entries that included Grand Marshall Dean Horton, Mayor Kristine Wyatt, Shriners International in small, speedy motorcars, seven classic cars, and Bristow’s Indian Commission, Round-Up Club, and Fire Department.
Afterwards, people listened to three music acts and shopped for merchandise, food, and drink from 65 street vendors located between 5 th to 9 th streets, including Two Steps Up and Ride (Haskell), American Legion Post 126 (Bristow), and Sweet T’s Sandwiches (Bristow).
The Kids Zone offered water-cooling inflatables and a rock-climbing wall.
Attendees participated in an Indian Friendship Dance and watched others.
Wrestling demonstrations sponsored by the Body Progression Gym drew a lot of onlookers who cheered during body slams and over-theropes flips.
Storefronts BroD’s Coffee, Dude & Dot Mercantile, and Salty Creek Boutique welcomed customers. Savannah Gantz-Batey, Lead Planner of the downtown bash, appreciated their 12 donors, especially G7 Ranches, Eco LINK, and Coop’s Stop N Shop. She thanked volunteers who made the day go smoothly, giving shoutouts to Pam Sauer and Alex Hayes. Summarizing how everything came together, she said, “It’s our first time heading up this festival and we pulled it off and we learned a lot! I’m exhausted but exhilarated.”
Why is holding a Western Heritage Festival important to Bristow? Grand Marshall Dean Horton’s answer hit a home run. “So we don’t forget where we came from,” he said. “It’s part of our roots.”