The trailer is unhitched and parked at the edge of the field in the trees. The horses have been unloaded, brushed and tied in the shade where they can relax until needed. The truck has been backed up to the arena fence, the tailgate lowered and is ready to provide seating for morning or afternoon rodeo slack.

People visiting and mingling with friends and family as they prepare for the events they are participating in. The little ones are excited to be a part of the lamb hunt and calf riding. The kids of the next generation are waiting their turn to ride truant and team up with a sibling, parent or good friend. Teens and adults alike are warming up their horses for calf roping, steer wrestling and barrel racing.

The younger generation hones their skills swinging ropes on hay bales and tying calves made of half a tire to legs made of four sticks cut to length. Watchful mentors who give advice and praise for efforts made.

The smell of burgers and onions grilling at the outdoor food stand wafts through the air along with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee. All mixed with the smells of the rodeo grounds.

The announcer has done his sound checks and the person acting as the rodeo clown for the day is finishing up his face paint while going over the antics scheduled for the afternoon in his mind.

Cattle contractor trucks arrived the day before to unload the raw cattle and the local ranchers who are supplying the calves and steers are long gone and gone in the early hours of the morning. Your livestock contribution is safely enclosed in pens located behind the arena.

Sounds behind the ramps indicate that the bareback horses are running towards the ramps to wait for the cowboys who have thrown them. Soon the bareback tackle will be in place and horse and rider will explode from the gate when it opens.

The performance will begin soon with a grand entrance and introductions from the community leaders and organizers who have worked so hard in preparation for this day. Recognition will be given to the youngest and oldest registrant, local celebrities like a student who won a scholarship, rodeo royalty from another city, timekeepers, judges and collectors.

For those who did come, they gave it their all and maybe, just maybe, they were lucky enough to take home some of the prize money; the luck of the draw was on his side.

This was rodeo forty years ago; and at the end of the day when the trucks and trailers left the rodeo grounds to head home; there was a comfortable feeling of belonging.