County Fairgrounds, USA - BLOG

‘Cap and Trade’ has enraged many ranchers and farmers.

2009-07-11T14:56:00.000-07:00

“This legislation has the potential to devastate the agricultural community with higher operating costs and destroy ways of life in rural America.”
- Rob Goodlatte, House Agricultural Committee

CattleGrower.com has formed a petition against this legislation – The only one for livestock producers and farmers of which we are aware.

The petition will be PRINTED and mailed to:

- Every United States Senator
- The Department of Agriculture

For a short video on the issue, or to join the petition, please use this link:

http://www.elabs6.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=mm2,6px8,dzz,5c5t,6vwo,fwli,e7im

To share the petition with others, please use this link:

CattleGrower.com/Petition-EnergyPolicy.htm

All the Best,

Chad Golladay
Publisher
CattleGrower.com/CheyenneOutlaw/

--------------------------------------Cheyenne Outlaw, LLC
PO BOX 3107
Cheyenne, WY 82003

New Jersey State Fair, pre event podcast

2009-07-10T14:26:00.000-07:00

July 31st through August 9th
Augusta, New Jersey
New Jersey State Fair, Sussex County Fair and Horse Show.

click here for the podcast interview

Interview with Kathy in public relations, and I, about this years fair. What is the history of the fairgrounds?, What is old and what is new? Farm animal activities for the younger crowd. She talks about their new green building. What is great for the seniors to do and how easy is it for them to get around? Grandstand music and motorsports. And ah yes the food. Lobster and Funnel Cakes, Fried Oreos. A craft tent and one commercial building.Demolition Derby. This fair has surprisingly a lot of agricultural events, and a lot of horses.
Their new event is the
SpectaCross - A Cyclocross Bike Race
Cyclocross- Like a steeplechase! Thrills, Spills and Chills!

Subscribe to our pre-event podcasts and entertainers podcast feed HERE!

The first fair TXT contest

2009-07-06T14:54:00.000-07:00

This is the first TXT contest from a fairgrounds I have seen. Congratulations to the California State Fair for being innovative!

****TEXT to WIN! Text GRAPE to 35350!****

CALIFORNIA’S Grape & Gourmet
Thursday, July 9
5:30 – 9:00 PM
Ages 21 and Over Only
NEW LOCATION!
Sacramento Convention Center

Text GRAPE to 35350* for the chance to win tickets to CALIFORNIA’S Grape & Gourmet!

A joke about dogs and retired people

2009-07-06T07:12:00.000-07:00

> TRIP TO
> COSTCO
>
> Yesterday I was at my local COSTCO
> buying a large bag of
> Purina dog chow for my loyal pet, Snoopy, the Wonder Dog,
> and was in the checkout line when the woman behind me
> asked
>
> if I had a dog.
>
> What did she think I had, an
> elephant? So since I'm retired
> and have little to do, on impulse I told her that no, I
> didn't have a dog, I was starting the Purina Diet
> again. I
>
> added that I probably shouldn't, because I ended up in
> the
> hospital last time, but that I'd lost 50 pounds before
> I
> awakened in an intensive care with tubes coming out of
> most
> of my orifices and IVs in both arms.
>
>
> I told her that it was essentially a
> perfect diet and that
> the way that it works is to load your pants pockets with
> Purina nuggets and simply eat one or two every time you
> feel
>
> hungry. The food is nutritionally complete so it works
> well
> and I was going to try it again. (I have to mention here
> that practically everyone in line was now enthralled with
> my
> story.) Horrified, she asked if I ended up in intensive
> care
>
> because the dog food poisoned me. I told her no, I stepped
> off a curb to sniff an Irish Setter's butt and a car
> hit us
> both.
>
> I thought the guy behind her was
> going to have a heart
> attack he was laughing so hard.  Costco won't let me
> shop
> there anymore.

GotCountry?: Rascal Flatts Cooks Up Some Breakfast

2009-07-04T19:04:00.000-07:00

GotCountry?: Rascal Flatts Cooks Up Some Breakfast

How to Win a Watermelon-Eating Contest | eHow.com

2009-07-02T17:43:00.001-07:00

How to Win a Watermelon-Eating Contest | eHow.com

Shared via AddThis

‘Cap and Trade” bill

2009-06-30T18:37:00.000-07:00

The House of Representatives recently passed a new ‘Cap and Trade” bill - Perhaps the most broad and sweeping legislation we’ve seen in our life time.

Please take a moment to vote or comment on how you feel this bill will affect Live Stock Producers if passed by the Senate here:

http://www.elabs6.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=mm2,6kx6,dzz,dxee,69my,fwli,e7im

Love him or hate him, here’s a video link on the topic from Glenn Beck.

http://www.elabs6.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=mm2,6kx6,dzz,gn1z,2cqi,fwli,e7im

If you’d like to vote on the poll, please do so BEFORE watching the video to help ensure the integrity of the poll.

All the Best,

Chad Golladay
Executive Publisher
CattleGrower.com
http://www.elabs6.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=mm2,6kx6,dzz,emb1,81m7,fwli,e7imCheyenne Outlaw, LLC
PO BOX 3107
Cheyenne, WY 82003

“What’s Old Is New Again”

2009-06-30T18:20:00.000-07:00

– The Follow-up Single for Colorado Cowboy Mike Schikora

Watch Mike on YouTube

- the perfect wedding song for 2009

Front Range Records recording artist Mike Schikora is back with a new single, “What’s Old Is New Again.” This is the perfect summer wedding song to follow-up his debut single, “Dance Angelina,” which captured his gritty classic country style. Anticipation for the new single has music reviewers already showing their support.

“As soon as I heard Mike’s CD…we had to add it to our playlist…Our listeners and everyone here at TMTR loves his music!” - Gary Barton / TMTR Internet Radio

“Mike is one of those gifted artists that hits a high mark with his authentic Texas country music. Close your eyes and you’re around the campfire on a starry night.” - Ed Spacek / TX radio promoter

“…this country music up-and-comer is driven to find success on his own terms.” - Joanna Nasar / Contributing Writer to American Cowboy

“I’m blown away by Mike Schikora, what a good singer, and a fine songwriter.” - Ken Murray / Program Director / KTEX Brenham , TX .

“What’s Old Is New Again,” highlights a love that grows stronger with time while examining a couple’s promise, commitment, encouragement and devotion. This song is the title track from Schikora’s critically-acclaimed debut CD currently available on CD Baby, iTunes and Rhapsody. “I wrote this song as a gift for my friend’s wedding. I let this cook for months since I could not think of what I wanted to write. Then, I literally wrote the song two days before the wedding,” says Schikora.

Schikora is the real deal – a dying breed of ranchers/cowboys and a rustic Rocky Mountain horseman. A day well spent includes working in the pasture, training new born foals, riding, and mending fences. Mike has rode his horse twice over the Continental Divide, started a Half Arabian Sport horse breeding business and continues to write songs for his publishing company, Tuck And Go Music. He has been featured in several media outlets including American Cowboy, The Nashville Musician, OutFront Colorado , Kootenai Valley Record, New Music Weekly, Lexington Broadcasting, among others. He is currently in the studio working on his sophomore release, which will be available this fall.

To stay updated on everything he is doing or to hear his single, visit www.myspace.com/mikeschikora, www.MikeSchikora.com and www.cdbaby.com/mikeschikora2/.

###

For more information, to request a press kit, CD, mp3 of the single or to set up an interview with Mike Schikora, please contact Nicole Zeller of PLA Media at nicole.zeller@plamedia.com or Front Range Records at mike@frontrangerecords.com.

What about sheep?

2009-06-27T13:48:00.000-07:00

Recently YouTube recommended a video to me on a sheep doing tricks. It was most impressive. It was also something I had never thought about. How intelligent is a sheep? In this video the sheep was taught to do all kinds of tricks for a tasty treat. It became apparent that the sheep liked the trainer and kept looking up at him - and then it was to the point where he pointed and the sheep just did...what the trainer seemed to ask.. from jumping in a box to jumping over obstacles and walking through a tunnel. That got me to thinking. We use sheep for all kinds of things. Wool and tasty lamb dishes.

Consider...

1) from a study done by a veterinary group in 2001 - By presenting sheep with images of 25 pairs of sheep faces and teaching them to associate one of each pair with a food reward, they trained them to recognize individual faces. Then, by measuring activity in regions of the sheep's brain associated with visual recognition, they found that sheep can remember up to 50 sheep faces, even in profile for up to two years! Some of us humans would have a problem with that.

2) A Welsh farmer stated: "When you thin that when sheep wander off sometimes they go back to where they came from - the flock they came from, " he said.

3) As prey animals, they have a highly-developed flocking instinct, and prefer to move in groups rather than as individuals. That certainly seems intelligent

4) Hungry sheep on the Yorkshire Moors (Great Britain) taught themselves to roll 8 feet (3 meters) across hoof-proof metal cattle grids to raid villagers' valley gardens.

5) Researchers say, "Sheep form individual friendships with one another, which may last for a few weeks. It's possible they may think about a face even when it's not there." The researchers also found female sheep had a definite opinion about what made a ram's face attractive

6) Using a maze, researchers have concluded that sheep have excellent spatial memory and are able to learn and improve their performance. And they can retain this information for a six-week period.

7) New research is suggesting that sick sheep could actually be smart enough to cure themselves. Australian researchers believe that sick sheep may actually seek out plants that make them feel better. There has been previous evidence to suggest that animals can detect what nutrients they are deficient in and can develop knowledge about which foods are beneficial or toxic.

The point is of course that the sheep is another one of God's creatures, put here for a purpose and that is not necessarily to just be thought of as food for our table. Sheep are intelligent creatures and have a place in the chain of life.

Top Ten San Diego County Fair Foods

2009-06-25T08:30:00.001-07:00

Top Ten San Diego County Fair Foods

Posted using ShareThis

Interview PRCA Rodeo Association

2009-06-24T19:12:00.000-07:00

PRCA Rode, history and what it does

Karen Riedl: Good afternoon! This is Karen from County Fairgrounds out of Denver. We're going to talk today to Sherry Compton of the PRCA rodeo, Pro Rodeo. Hi, Sherry!

Sherry Compton: Hi! How are you, Karen? Karen: Oh, I'm fine. I have a question because I didn't recently really know too much about rodeo. I've often had a curiosity as to exactly what some of these rodeo associations do. So can you tell me a little bit about the history of the PRCA first?

Sherry: Sure. Absolutely. The PRCA is the largest, oldest sanctioning body of professional rodeo. We've been around for a long, long time. I think in our infancy, a lot of roping and riding contests happened at the end of trailheads and trail drives. A lot of ranch outfits got together and had contests. They would have their best hands compete. So it was loosely organized for a long time, but they became anticipated events. In 1936, that was our first organizational effort when contestants rebelled against some promoters and demanded their fair prize money, consistency in judging, and honest advertising. So this group banded together. I think there were probably 61 of them. They started the Cowboy Turtle Association. They called it the Cowboy Turtle Association because they stuck their necks out, and they were so slow to organize.

Karen: That's funny! The Cowboy Turtle Association.

Sherry: That was their original name because they stuck their necks out and they were so slow to organize, which is something they felt they should have done earlier. But from 1936 that was their name. In 1945 they changed the name to the Rodeo Cowboys Association. They had a permanent home in Colorado Springs. We moved down here in 1979, but in 1975 the Rodeo Cowboys Association became the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. So we've had a long history. We keep stats of all of our world champions and files on all these cowboys throughout the year, so we've got a lot of information here housed.

Karen: I know that there's a lot of rodeo associations. How do you fit in with all these rodeo associations, because there's a lot of them around?

Sherry: They're all over I think within every state, just like there's the Colorado Pro Rodeo Association. But we're not affiliated with any other of those. We do work in cooperation with The Canadian Professional Rodeo Association. We are a proud sponsor of The National High School, The Intercollegiate Rodeo Association, Little Britches, American Junior Rodeo. So we do sponsor those organizations there and work with them a little bit. But basically, we have no contact with any of those other associations. We consider those minor league. They're professional to a degree because they earn money. They win money but we consider them minor league, and we really don't have any affiliation. We sanction over 600 rodeos a year throughout the United States and Canada.

Karen: OK. All right. So you're telling me that the PRCA Rodeo Association is the rodeo association for the United States then. Is that what you're telling me?

Sherry: Well, we're the largest and the oldest. That's all I can say. I just think most of the cowboys just like the big names. Ty Murray made his name here. Our prize money is I think over $40 million for the year. In 2008 we had over $40 million. We have our year-end finals, The National Finals Rodeo, in Las Vegas. It's called The Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, and we offered $5.625 million in prize money. So I think a lot of associations, the way I look at it, are stepping stones to the PRCA. But some cowboys don't choose to rodeo full time, either. So it depends on the person and what they're looking for.

Karen: OK. Well, the next question I'm going to ask you is where does the money given for these prizes come from, and then do you own these rodeos?

Sherry: ...going on right now. We've got rodeos going on all the time. Usually a committee or something from a particular town, like a local Jaycees or businessmen, contacts the PRCA. They have to meet certain criteria to be sanctioned by us. They have to put up added money, which all the contestants' cowboy fees goes into that, too, when they enter the rodeo. But they do have to meet certain criteria to be called a PRCA rodeo, a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association rodeo.

Karen: So what do you do for the average guy who wants to ride in a rodeo?

Sherry: Well, for the average guy, the dues. You come into the association by purchasing a permit. It's $300. After you've won $1,000 on that permit, you're eligible for full membership. The fee is for full membership for $500. That covers you with insurance for in-arena accidents and that type of thing. I think just the PRCA offers so much support in so many different ways, from top bucking stock and the national headquarters. We're fully staffed. We're always there to help our contestants. We've got essential entry systems set up, where all they have to do is dial one number. They can enter multiple rodeos, call back, and find out when they've drawn up. It's all computerized. But there's just a lot of nice services just becoming member of the PRCA. We've always been trying and worked hard to raise the standards of rodeos across the country.

Karen: Being the average person who goes to a rodeo, I always thought the PRCA was a mystical kind of a thing. But I didn't know where it came from or what it really meant.

Sherry: The PRCA? You didn't know what it meant?

Karen: No, and I'm a kind of sit-around person, OK? And I know that I should have, but I deal with a lot of stuff. I just really started to develop a real good interest in rodeos and what goes on at rodeos. I think a lot of times that the average person out on the street is a little confused by that.

Sherry: Absolutely. And another thing. I just think that being a part of the PRCA with our pro officials program, they're more insured of consistency in judging. We've got the top caliber judges at sanctioned PRCA rodeos, like I said, besides top stock and all of our stock contractor members. So there's a lot of plusses at being part of the PRCA.

Karen: Stock contractors are a thing I learned about recently. I know that there's a lot of them around. What does it take to be a good stock contractor? Do you approve certain stock contractors and suggest certain stock contractors to a rodeo?

Sherry: Again, they have to be checked out and certified. Make sure that they have so much livestock, and a lot of these stock contractors have had their own breeding programs. A lot of people just think you can make a horse buck, but not consistently. A lot of these horses will not make saddle horses, and they do enjoy bucking. So just having a lot of good livestock. The stock contractors make their own contracts with different rodeo committees throughout the country. At The Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas we have a PRCA convention, where a lot of our contract members from rodeo clowns, acts, and stock contractors come together and meet with the rodeo committees throughout the country. Then they sign contracts for the year. So they take care of their own business. But again, I say that they have to be checked out and that they've got the caliber of stock to meet the PRCA standard. We've got a lot of good contractors throughout the country that take good care of their livestock. They're expensive, and they really do care about them. They're a huge part of a cowboy's score. They take good care of those animals.

Karen: Right, and I'm aware that a lot of the stock contractors do different rodeo things and move stock around. So do the stock contractors pay a process fee to join the PRCA?

Sherry: Yeah, they have a membership fee, and they have to have so many head of livestock. I don't really work in that area, but there is a process for them too.

Karen: You said clowns. Do you have a membership for rodeo clowns?

Sherry: Well we have contract personnel and that includes that they have to be members. Anybody that works a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association rodeo has to be a member. Our contract personnel really consists of announcers, clowns and barrelmen, bullfighters, rodeo secretaries, specialty acts, stock contractors, timers, and rodeo producers. They're all considered part of our contract personnel, and they have to be members to work our rodeos.

Karen: There are rodeo cowboys that are pretty famous. Do you guys offer training for these cowboys? Or do they learn all this stuff out in the field by themselves?

Sherry: Well the last few years, rodeo schools have really become popular. I would say a lot of cowboy contestants come up through the ranks from junior rodeo in high school and into college, and then onto the pros. And most of those kids that have grown up competing will go to rodeo schools. They've got rodeo schools for the roping and for the timed events. They've got rodeo schools for the roughstock events. So a lot of people go in there and just refine their skills. And since there are not as many ranches and youngsters growing up in agricultural areas, I think a lot of these cowboys are off the street from cities. They've done well by attending rodeo schools, and they actually do well in the PRCA, if that's their dream and that's what they want to do. So people come from all different walks of life it seems. But definitely, there are rodeo schools and most of these contestants have gone to one and honed their skills.

Karen: You're primarily talking about men, right? I mean you're not talking about women.

Sherry: Well there are barrel racing schools. Women do the same thing. Women have their own association, and they belong to the Women's Professional Rodeo Association. They keep all their stats. They also have all-girl rodeos that compete in a lot of different events, not just barrel racing. But there are barrel racing schools; it seems like there are schools for just about every event.

Karen: I know that you said you sponsor the Little Britches rodeo. I know the Little Britches is pretty popular across the United States. How did that come about?

Sherry: I don't know. That's been happening long before I was here, and I've been around here for 30 years. But I think that's where our future lies. All these kids that compete, when they're youngsters, usually want to step up to the ranks of the professional rodeo. There's been that union for a long time, and like I said, that's where our future comes from - all those kids that are junior rodeoing right now. So a lot of those kids will come on into the PRCA.

Karen: All right now, cowboys. Some of these cowboys actually make a living at this? What is their shelf life? And about how much do they make?

Sherry: Well, I can tell you that being a cowboy is a young man's sport, especially in the roughstock events. You're talking about saddle bronc riding and bareback riding, and bull riding. So there are a lot of 20-year-olds and early 30s competing in that. A lot of our cowboys, I think, are world champions, if I can find it here. I'll tell you, in the bareback riding, one cowboy won $216,967 in 2008. So they're all winning over $100,000 or around $200,000. But a lot of our cowboys and contestants are "weekend warriors." A lot of people hold down full-time jobs and then rodeo on the weekends. And we've got our circuit system made up for those people, so they can rodeo close to home. Some of our cowboys are full-time rodeo contestants that just crisscross the United States and enter rodeos. But for these other people that hold down full-time jobs, we've got a circuit system. And they can go to rodeos in their area and get points, and qualify for the national circuit finals, the Dodge National Circuit Finals in Pocatello. So they can win championships there too, even though they don't rodeo full-time. So we have things set up for the full-time cowboy and for the part-time cowboy.

Karen: Doesn't the PRCA do a seniors rodeo too? Sherry: No, we don't. But there is a senior pro-rodeo association and that's for age 40 and over, and they are located in Montana. So there's a separate organization. But I was just saying that a lot of the roughstock contestants are younger. They're in their 20s and early 30s. But a lot of our timed-event cowboys - when you're talking about team ropers and some of the steer wrestlers - can rodeo a few years longer. We see a lot of team ropers out there in their 40s.

Karen: One time I went to a fair and rode the mechanical bull, and I know that you can get hurt. So a lot of people get hurt in rodeo, right? Sherry: Yeah, that's just kind of what rodeo is. A lot of those contestants compete with injuries. They're certainly not pampered athletes. We also have Justin as a major sponsor of the PRCA, and they have the Justin Healer Program. And they go to probably 60 of our major rodeos out there, and have the Justin's sports medicine team out there available to contestants with injuries.

Karen: OK. For the average rodeo person who does get hurt - and if they can't ride again and they can't get involved - does the insurance pretty much take care of their injuries then for the rest of their life?

Sherry: No, not at all. We have a Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund, which people donate to. If a cowboy is injured in the arena, the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund will help out with some of their expenses, and help them for as long as they can, depending on the injury. But it's a pretty individual sport. You come in here and you pay your own fees. You pay all your own expenses. I always say that rodeo is not just a sport - it's more of a lifestyle. I think cowboys have always been seen as the independent romantics. Some of that, I'm sure, is what drives some of these young people to the sport.

Karen: Right. I'm sure that it does. So you've been drawn to the sport. What's drawn you to it?

Sherry: What's drawn me to it? I don't know. When I was a little girl, I started competing in Little Britches and had horses and everything, and just loved it. I competed in high school. In college, I got involved with reining horses. But my husband competed while he was growing up. Our kids competed in Little Britches in high school. So we've been involved in the sport most of our lives. And you've just got to love it. You love horses. You love the competition. I had friends that said: "You sure you want your kids to rodeo?" And I said we have to keep it all in the right perspective. It's a wonderful family activity. We've got an arena at home, and everybody's battled at night. After school, everybody heads out to the arena. We were doing this activity together, and I just thought it was wonderful. We went to competitions together, and it was a really good family time, instead of everybody going in separate directions. Competition is what keeps them interested.

Karen: I was at the Rocky Mountain Horse Expo on Sunday, and they had little, pony stick riders for the little kids. And that was really interesting. I mean, and they really took it seriously, these kids. The little kids.

Sherry: I know they have roping contest for these little kids, that their not on horseback, but they have roping contests and jackpots, so the little kids can take part too. And what else has gotten popular -- the PRCA doesn't sanction it, it's not part of the PRCA -- but at some of those rodeos they'll hold little mutton busting contests where these little kids get on a sheep, and they have little vests, and helmets, and it's just as cute as can be. So, there's a lot of fun for the little ones too. I think the National Britches Rodeo Association, I think you have to be age 8. I think it's ages eight to 18 to be able to compete there. But I know a lot of those kids are also competing in high school rodeos too.

Karen: The PRCA has a museum in Colorado Springs. What's in the museum?

Sherry: Oh, golly. My husband actually put that museum together. He was the operations manager and did all the collections. It opened in 1979, The Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame. And we just housed most of the greatest cowboys in our history in there, they've all got displays and a lot of their personal belongings are in there, from their chaps and boots and hats. It's just a nice place to visit and if you've had an interest in rodeo and know who some of these people are, it's just wonderful to go down through history lane and look at all this. There's beautiful bronzes. And they're doing a new exhibit right now, I think Las Vegas is putting this together downstairs, so there's a lot of nice things to see when you go in there. even if you don't follow rodeo it's kind of interesting to look at all the sculptures and just to read who some of these people are. We've got some of the all-time great livestock that's been inducted, so it's just a nice place to visit for all these people that made history.

Karen: Does the PRCA provide a place like -- I know you said the cowboys, they sign up and they pay a membership fee and everything so do they have any interaction with each other within the organization?

Sherry: What do you mean by that?

Karen: Do they have a place where they can go where they congregate, and they all intermingle, and socialize and things like that. Do you provide something like that for the cowboys? Sherry: Yes. When we have our conventions and when we have our inductions here at the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame, that's in July. But out there on the rodeo trail there's a lot of these established rodeos like Salinas and Denver and Houston and cowboys crisscross the United States a lot of them run into each other there. They've got hospitality suites. Some of these rodeo committees and these different communities go all out for the contestants, and have nice places for them to eat, and just like hospitality kind of stuff. They come to their rodeo. You know, we've got rodeos that last from one day to two weeks so on that spectrum there's all kind of different things and different rodeos that offer different things and I think it's really nice for the cowboys. They do crisscross and run into each other out there, as they're rodeoing. And of course when we have our convention and different things here at the Hall of Fame a lot of people come through. And they come through during the summer when they're at Cheyenne and headed to the Pikes Peak or Bust rodeo here.

Karen: How do they get to be part of the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame? How do they get inducted into that?

Sherry: Well, they're nominated. I don't work in that area either but I think that someone nominates somebody, that nomination form goes in there, and I believe that there's three years where these people are considered. They have a panel of people that decide. They go through all the criteria and people that they think are deserving -- we have rodeo notables and we have world champions and they make the decision. In fact, I think this next week this panel's coming in right now to make the decision for the 2009 inductees this summer that will happen in July. And that's really a nice event here at the hall.

Karen: You have world champions. Where else is rodeo big besides in the United States?

Sherry: Where else is it big? I believe in Australia. Of course, Canada. Canada's big. They have a Canadian Professional Rodeo Association. I believe in Australia they have the Australian Roughriders Association. A lot of their young men have come over here to compete. But I know that a lot of Australians that have competed over in their country make arrangements to come over here and join the PRCA and compete in the States.

Karen: I imagine that you'd keep continuing and getting bigger. Where do you see the PRCA going? Sherry: Well, we're always trying to get more prize money for our cowboys. We've got a lot of major corporate sponsors putting money into the association. We were just talking about it this morning, that with these hard times it seems like rodeo prospers because people aren't taking extravagant trips and headed out of town. A lot of them might stay close and buy a $15 or $20 ticket to a rodeo. So people are always looking for activities and things. It is a family sport. Everybody can go and enjoy it, so I think we're going to do pretty well. I hope we do. I hope the economy turns around for everybody, but rodeo is still here. We're still going to have a lot of rodeos this year.

Karen: Right. I noticed when I was at the Rocky Mountain Horse Expo that there were a lot of horse people there and a lot of people going to the events. It was really...

Sherry: Oh, yeah.

Karen: It's kind of fun.

Sherry: Right.

Karen: It's kind of fun, and you sit back there. It's better, I think, than watching a baseball game.

Sherry: Absolutely. I just grew up loving horses and competition, and there's just something about it that attracts people and draws people. All horse events. People really love their horses, don't they?

Karen: Yes. Yes. And I have a lot of interaction now with a lot of horse people online, and especially on Twitter, that have come looking for me. We're having a lot of interaction. I'm finding more and more horse people that are absolutely horse crazy all the time.

Sherry: I know. It's an expensive proposition, but one that people love.

Karen: Right, and people do seem to be entertained by it. In a lot of cases, like I said, it's more rewarding than going to a baseball game and more rewarding than going to see a movie. People in the stands were just totally relaxed, and you could see that they were really enjoying themselves.

Sherry: Absolutely, yeah. Totally just fun.

Karen: All right. Well, do you have anything that you want to add? I think we've covered what the PRCA is and pretty much what it does.

Sherry: Well, I just hope that people will attend some rodeos and just appreciate the athletes that we have in the livestock and the athletes that we have in the cowboys. It's certainly an American sport that originated from original ranch work and dealing with animals. I just have to say that most contestants and rodeo kids growing up love these animals, and we care for them and appreciate what they give us.

Karen: Right. I've seen the exciting things that go with it, like the rodeo clown. I think the rodeo clowns are real special people, too.

Sherry: Right. Absolutely. Absolutely. You can see it going to...

Karen: They really add to the rodeo.

Sherry: Yes, they do. They sure do.

Karen: OK. Well, thank you very much. I enjoyed talking to you in the PRCA Radio this afternoon. Thanks. Bye-bye.

Kitchen Sink: Lisa Prince shares recipe for blueberry-lemon bundt cake

2009-06-23T12:55:00.000-07:00

Kitchen Sink: Lisa Prince shares recipe for blueberry-lemon bundt cake

4th pf July contest crazy

2009-06-21T09:58:00.000-07:00

I have been looking at county fair and event contests. Have you ever wondered what happened to some of these old fashioned contests our grandparents played? They are alive and well at successful county fairs, everywhere, like for instance here are some of the contests going on at the Houlton Agricultural Fair in Maine over the 4th of July fair.
Pie Eating Contest, Bubble Gum Blowing Contest, Oreo Cookie Stacking Contest, Hula Hoop Contest, Ice Cream Eating Contest, Egg Toss Contest, Pig Scramble, on to the Kid's Cooking Contest, Kid's Karaoke, Kid's Chocolate Chip Cookie Contest, Soccer Ball Contest, Water Balloon Contest, Little Mr. and Mrs. Firecracker Contest, Salsa Chugging Contest, Moxie Chugging Contest, Basketball Contest, Kid's Tractor Contest, Burping Contest, Skillet Throw Contest, Cash Cube Contest

Now the San Diego County Fair in California is also going on at this time, with the following contests...
Watermelon Spitting Contest, Frozen T Shirt Contest, Corn Husking Contest, Kid's Best Hannah Montana Look a-like contest, Blue potato toss contest, Most patriotic costume contest, and because its California it is followed by a wine tasting contest.

The MORAL here folks thank heaven, is that the computer games and interaction are not everything... thank heaven we can still have fun!

Karen's BBQ

2009-06-21T09:01:00.000-07:00

My BBQ Beef Receipe

from time to time I have found a receipe , that I love. This one however, was passed down from my grandmother to my mother to me.

1 green pepper, chopped

1 1/2 lbs. of ground buffalo, or organic beef

1 small bottle of catshup

1 large can of stewed, chopped tomatoes

pickling spice.

saute pepper, cook beef, mix it all together and take a piece of gauze or a old handkerchief and put in the center about 3 teaspoons of pickling spice. Tie it with a piece of string and drop the end with the spice into the BBQ mix. Cook about two or more hours. The pickling spice gives it an outstanding taste. Leftovers taste better.

If you missed the CMT Video Awards last night

2009-06-17T09:42:00.001-07:00

If you missed the CMT Video Awards last night – here’s what you missed

Posted using ShareThis

Our new 4th of July Store

2009-06-11T18:06:00.000-07:00

Hi, I know there are a lot of shops online, but, I am hoping you will take a moment and look at our new one from Cafe Press. There are a lot of 4th of July items in it. T-Shirts and even a doggie Americana T-shirt. There is a 4th of July BBQ apron.

Oklahoma Family Needed for Bristish TV Show

2009-06-10T10:53:00.000-07:00

Hi Karen,

Great chatting earlier, as you know I am a Casting Producer for a series in which, each week, two British teenagers will be sent to live with a family abroad, to experience life in their country under their rules.

In the last series, the BBC sent overindulged teenagers from the UK to live with role model families all over the world, from Jamaica to India, Ghana to South Africa. In this series we want to involve a family from Oklahoma.

The first series was a huge success, as we were able to cast parents who not only felt passionately about instilling discipline and respect in their own children, but felt that their values could also help teenagers who did not benefit from the same moral guidance at home.

We are looking for families (with children aged 14-16), who would be willing to accommodate two teenagers for one week in July 2009 and instill in them the values and morality they demand of their own children. The British teens will be expected to attend school, church, complete homework and help with household chores; they will not be guests in the house but new members of the family.

We want to champion parents who believe in instilling old-fashioned discipline, boundaries and respect and hope that you may be able to help us find a suitable family by letting the parents of your pupils know about what we are doing and how to get involved.

Attached is an information sheet about the series -please can you get this to all the fairs in Oklahoma, If any families are interested, they just need to send us an email including a contact number and a brief description about their family and why they would be good to take part. My email address is sarahrubin@twentytwenty.tv or call 0 1144 207 284 2020

Twenty Twenty Television (www.twentytwenty.tv) is one of the UK’s leading independent production companies with a reputation for producing intelligent and award-winning programmes. If you would like to see some of last years series please do let me know and I will happily post you a DVD - alternatively there is a clip of the series on our website.

I would like to thank you in advance for sending this to everyone you can, we are looking for the families over the next couple of weeks so it would be great if you can get this to them as soon as possible.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards,

Sarah Rubin

Top Rodeo Bulls, by Candis Reade, Categorie: Rodeo on ArticleSlash.net

2009-06-07T14:20:00.001-07:00

Top Rodeo Bulls, by Candis Reade, Categorie: Rodeo on ArticleSlash.net

Shared via AddThis

Jason Aldean charts out US tour in 2009

2009-05-18T06:34:00.000-07:00

The Georgia-born country singer, Jason Aldean has charted out a long US tour as he gets ready to support the freshly recorded album, “Wide Open.” The tour had begun at the WQYK Country Fest and is sprinkled with country music festivals and other county fairs throughout the summer, giving the performer a healthy audience. This is Jason’s third album and had opened at No. 2 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums charts with “She’s Country” touching the same spot on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs charts. As if this wasn’t enough, Jason’s second album, “Relentless” itself had debuted with a No. 1 position on the Country Music charts.

JASON ALDEAN TOUR DATES 2009
05/20/2009 - Glen Allen, VA - Snagajob Pavilion
05/21/2009 - Charlotte, NC - Speed Street 600 Festival
05/23/2009 - Little Rock, AR - Riverfest
05/28/2009 - Chattanooga, TN - Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Auditorium
05/29/2009 - Greensboro, NC - Greensboro Coliseum
05/30/2009 - Pikeville, KY - Eastern Kentucky Expo Center
06/06/2009 - Enterprise, AL - Bamajam Festival
06/12/2009 - Nashville, TN - Wildhorse Saloon
06/19/2009 - Walker, MN - Moondance Jammin’ Country Festival
06/20/2009 - New Berlin, IL - Sangamon County Fair
06/26/2009 - Grand Junction, CO - Country Jam USA
06/28/2009 - Cadott, WI - Chippewa Valley Music Fest
06/29/2009 - Muskegon, MI - Heritage Landing
07/01/2009 - Milwaukee, WI - Summerfest
07/03/2009 - Dauphin, Manitoba - Dauphin Countryfest
07/05/2009 - Grand Prairie, Alberta - Xtreme Country
07/09/2009 - Omaha, NE - Qwest Center
07/10/2009 - Wichita, KS - Kansas Coliseum
07/11/2009 - Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center
07/21/2009 - Kentland, IN - Pun’kin Vine Fair
07/24/2009 - Central Point, OR - Jackson County Fairgrounds
07/25/2009 - Yerington, NV - Night in the Country
08/03/2009 - Monroe, MI - Monroe County Fair
08/06/2009 - Little Valley, NY - Cattaraugus Country Fair
08/07/2009 - Norfolk, VA - Naval Amphibious Base Theater
08/13/2009 - Pittsburgh, PA - Mellon Arena
08/14/2009 - Columbus, OH - Nationwide Arena
08/15/2009 - Indianapolis, IN - Indiana State Fairgrounds
08/18/2009 - Hershey, PA - Giant Center
08/19/2009 - Harrisonburg, VA - Rockingham County Fairgrounds
08/25/2009 - Meadville, PA - Crawford County Fairgrounds
08/26/2009 - Rhinebeck, NY - Dutchess County Fair
09/11/2009 - Puyallup, WA - Puyallup Fair
09/12/2009 - Butte, MT - Butte Civic Center
09/13/2009 - Worley, ID - Couer D’Alene Resort
09/19/2009 - Lake Elsinore, CA - Wagon Wheel Festival

Free Website and Hosting

2009-05-17T14:30:00.000-07:00

Are you a small to medium sized county fair? I am offering free website hosting, and help with search engine listing, website design, and audio to one of you for free. If you think your fair would like to work with me for a year and be our test website please send me an email. I will be picking one of you to work with. Just answer the question as to why it should be your fair?

posts from CattleGrower.com

2009-05-03T06:57:00.000-07:00

Featured Posts at CattleGrower.com

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- Featured Video: It's Raining in My Barn!
What causes condensation inside your buildings and what you can do about it.
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- Featured Game: Big Head Boy
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- Best Deal Ever on Bobcat Machines and Attachments
0% APR for up to 50 months or Huge Rebates. More information here;
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Jason Aldean maps 'Wide Open' summer tour

2009-04-30T18:51:00.000-07:00

By Tjames Madison / LiveDaily Contributor

Country singer Jason Aldean [ tickets ] has mapped an exhaustive summer tour schedule as the performer starts to support his recently released third album, "Wide Open."

The Georgia-born singer gets the ball rolling May 3 in Clearwater, FL, with an appearance at the WQYK Country Fest. The tour currently comprises 45 date spread across parts of five months, and becomes peppered with summer festivals and county fairs as it progresses through summer. Aldean's schedule, which is included below, is capped off with a Sept. 19 slot at Lake Elsinore, CA's Wagon Wheel Festival.

"Wide Open," which surfaced earlier this month, debuted at No. 2 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart, with the leadoff single, "She's Country," reaching the same position on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart. Several cuts from the set are streaming at Aldean's website.

The album is the follow-up to Aldean's sophomore effort, "Relentless," which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's country

Country Ribs and Kraut, SEND us your Recipes

2009-04-20T12:41:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone, below is a recipe for Ribs... Okay, please send us your country recipes and I will post them and give CASH to ones who I really really like and free advertising. Our fairgrounds season is looming.
Lets make them your recipes and we will make a Countyfairgrounds cookbook for fund raising for organizations. I will set up a method to post recipes online on our site.... well, our layout person will design a method to do this...as soon as I can sneak it into his busy list..I will twist his arm

2 to 2-1/2 pounds pork country-style ribs (4 ribs)
3 large tart apples, cored and cut into wedges (about 6 cups)
1 16-ounce can sauerkraut, rinsed and drained
2 cups shredded red cabbage
1 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chicken broth
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon caraway seed
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg or allspice
1/8 teaspoon pepper
Dash ground cloves

Arrange ribs in a single layer in a shallow roasting pan. Broil 5 to 6 inches
from heat for 20 minutes, turning frequently or until browned. Drain well.
Meanwhile, in a 3-quart rectangular baking dish combine apples, sauerkraut,
cabbage, onion, broth, brown sugar, caraway seed, salt, nutmeg, pepper, and
cloves. Season ribs with additional salt and pepper, if desired. Place ribs on
top of sauerkraut mixture, pushing ribs down into the mixture. Cover tightly
with foil.
Bake in a 325 degree F oven for 1 to 1-1/2 hours or until meat is tender.
Remover from oven. Serve immediately or cool slightly. Divide mixture into two
1-1/2- or 2-quart rectangular baking dishes.
Cover the dishes with foil; chill for at least 2 hours or up to 24 hours.
When ready to serve, reheat, covered, in a 350 degree F oven for 30 to 35
minutes or until hot. Spoon juices over ribs. Serve with a slotted spoon.
Makes 4 servings.

NASCAR SIMULATORS AT YOUR EVENT

2009-04-20T09:05:00.000-07:00

SEE www.topendracing.com to see how the simulators work.

Sweet Potato Crescent Dumplings

2009-04-15T10:07:00.000-07:00

Sweet Potato Crescent Dumplings

1 can refrigerated crescent dinner rolls
1 can (15 oz.) sweet potatoes in syrup, drained (reserve syrup)
½ cup (1 stick) butter or margarine
⅔ cup sugar
⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon
dash ground nutmeg, optional
½ cup of reserved syrup
¼ cup pineapple juice

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Separate crescent roll dough into 8 triangles. Spoon a couple of the sweet potato chunks onto large end of crescent. Roll up from large end to the smaller tip, enclosing the sweet potatoes inside. Place in a lightly buttered 8 or 9 inch square baking pan. Combine butter, sugar, and spices in small saucepan. Heat until butter is melted. Pour hot mixture over top of filled crescents. Combine reserved ½ cup syrup and pineapple juice and pour over top. Bake for about 45 minutes or until golden brown and crispy on top.