OUT and ABOUT with Seeker Chick Mai-Liis and Seeker Photojournalist Dick Budge: At the Williamstown Rodeo on Saturday, July 4th – my first ever Rodeo!
This was the second year that the Williamstown Fairgrounds, in collaboration with BlackCreek Rodeo Co., brought the “toughest sport on dirt” to our region, and after spending two action-packed hours there, I can honestly say I now understand what all the excitement is about.
At first. I wasn’t sure what to expect when Williamstown Fairgrounds Committee member Rob Lalonde, a fellow graphic designer from years ago, reached out to tell me about the rodeo and asked if The Seeker might be interested in covering it.
A quick look at my calendar revealed that DJ Shellshock and I weren’t booked for a wedding that day (although Sheldon did have a sound gig in Ottawa), which meant I was actually free to cover a local event. I immediately called one of our talented Seeker photographers, Dick Budge, to see if he’d like to join me. The answer was yes—and off we went.
From the moment the announcer welcomed the crowd, there was never a dull moment. Bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, barrel racing, steer wrestling, tie-down roping, breakaway roping, team roping, bull riding, junior bull riding and the always adorable mutton busting kept the audience thoroughly entertained. Add in lively commentary, a soundtrack of country music mixed with a little rock, and a rodeo clown who had everyone laughing between events, and the two hours from 7 to 9 p.m. absolutely flew by.
I have to say that I really enjoyed watching the Capital City Cowgirls as their performance looked like line dancing on horseback.
Before the rodeo began, I watched two young ladies testing their skills on Jed, the mechanical bull. It looked challenging enough—until the real bull riding started.
I honestly have no idea how anyone manages to stay aboard those massive animals. The goal. I believe, is to hang on for at least eight seconds, but I can only imagine those eight seconds must feel like an eternity when you’re trying to keep your balance while a powerful bull does everything it can to send you flying. And once you’re thrown off? You’d better move fast! Those animals are incredibly powerful, lightning quick, and watching the rodeo personnel protect the riders was just as impressive as the competition itself.
The Williamstown Rodeo is organized by the Williamstown Fairgrounds, part of the St. Lawrence Valley Agricultural Society, a nonprofit organization that partners with Black Creek Rodeo to produce this exciting annual event. Beyond the rodeo itself, visitors also enjoyed cowboy culture with food vendors, a beer garden inside The Meeting Place, and live entertainment starting on Saturday afternoon, by Whiskey Brooks and The Bedlam Boys.
As always, Dick captured the day beautifully. His camera was everywhere—from the competitors and their horses to the fans enjoying the action, the activities around the grounds, the live entertainment, and, of course, some spectacular action shots from inside the arena.
This is just a small taste of what we experienced. Stay tuned for a full feature with many more of Dick’s incredible photos, along with my interview with Black Creek Rodeo owner Steve Fisher and his sons, Matt and Shawn Fisher, where we’ll take you behind the scenes of what it takes to bring this thrilling sport to Williamstown.
Trust me… if you’ve never been to a rodeo before, it might just surprise you as much as it surprised me!
Some of the language used at the Rodeo was quite unfamiliar to me but this was a real competition for prize money and you can see the results for the weekend rodéo on Black Creek Rodeo Co.’s Facebook page.
Originally posted by Mai-Liis Renaud on Facebook. Source: https://www.facebook.com/groups/localseekergroup/posts/27811949661732768/
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