Rodeos are so much more than an athletic event. They are powerful, passionate and valiant yet romantic and modest. It is a culture of ideals, values and integrity. It is a community of admiration and respect for each other, the livestock and the cowboy tradition.
It has been such a pleasure to be able to travel with Pendleton® Whisky to rodeos across the country and experience this wonderful sport. Through my travels, I have observed that not one rodeo is alike which makes it all the more electrifying. From the arena and announcers to the side entertainment and event lineup, each rodeo adds their own special flair to make it unique. However, there is one commonality across all rodeo events and that is the singing of the national anthem. It’s the moment when the cowboys and cowgirls take off their hats, hold them over their hearts and a hushed silence washes over the arena as the crowd waits for the “The Star-Spangled Banner” to commence and Old Glory to rise. As I stand there with my fellow Americans, honoring our nation and those who have served and are currently serving our country, you can sense the raw emotion which is simply overwhelming. “O’er the land of the free and the home of the BRAVE” is the ultimate culmination of the national anthem as the crowd erupts and we belt out together our love for our country. No questions asked, this is my favorite part about a rodeo.
I look forward to seeing y’all in our future travels but until then
Let’er Buck!
– Jackie
