British Invasion {That Famous Preston Night Rodeo}

Pre-children and back in the day when Jeff and I were young and in love, we went to "That Famous Preston Night Rodeo" every year. Jeff went every year - sometimes all three nights of the rodeo - growing up. And since it was tradition, it was also on the British Invasion's bucket list. So Jeff and I ditched the kids at Bear Lake with my parents {it also happens to be Raspberry Days this same weekend} and headed over to Preston for the rodeo.

That Famous Preston Night Rodeo got its name because it's recognized as the first night rodeo in the world... 75 years ago this year! How cool is that in little ole' P town! I love seeing the backdrop of the carnival rides, especially as it gets dark and all the lights are sparkling.

Bareback, saddle bronc, calf roping, team roping, steer wrestling, barrel racing, and bull riding. 

My absolute favorite part of the rodeo are the horses. I love watching them and love, love, love the bareback and saddle bronc events. 

The mutton bustin' is hilarious. I still remember one of the rodeos when this sheep literally sailed out of the shoots and the poor kid just hung on for dear life. I had no idea sheep had "hops" like that one!

And of course the cowgirls get their turn to show off with barrel racing.

Back to the cowboys on the saddle bronc. 

I know this picture is blurry, but look at how beautiful that paint is! Gorgeous!

 

The backdrop with the Ferris Wheel is really cool. At least I think it is. 

Oh sure the bull riding is cool too, but not as many cowboys are able to stay on for 8 seconds like they can on the broncs. You really must be totally insane to strap yourself onto the back of a 2,000+ lb. snorting, slobbering, pissed off bull with horns and huge, er, um, manhood whipping around. Like this big, bad boy who decided once his cowboy came flying off his back, he'd take after the rodeo clowns and then just play dead. Strangest thing I've ever seen!

Or this monster who took after the rodeo clown sitting in the barrel, not thinking anything was coming his way when the bull decided he'd had enough fun.

We'd forgotten how much fun the rodeo was! I even busted out a cowboy hat to wear for the occasion. Jeff and the British Invasion were too chicken or embarrassed to be cool like me.

But not too cool for the tradition picture with the rodeo queens! Every year we went to the rodeo, Jeff got a picture with the rodeo Queen and Princesses. He says who doesn't like girls with giant belt buckles? Yeah. I'm sure that's all he likes. Even though our nieces acted horrified that we'd make them wait in line after the rodeo to meet the rodeo royalty, they loved it. They even got some royalty swag signed by all of them. Miss Rodeo Idaho {Hali Stutzman} was on her way to the National Rodeo Finals and expected to place very high in the competition.

We're re-invigorating this family tradition next year!