• rodeo_posse
    Law enforcement leads the parade for this year’s “Honor the Badge” theme.
  • rodeo_parade
    A vintage vehicle rolls down Main Street.
  • bull_1
    A helmeted cowboy hangs on.
  • bull_3
    Fine form .5 seconds into a ride.
  • bull_4-2
    A mere 1.5 seconds later, the cowboy is in the dirt and under a bull.
  • trick_rider_2-2
    A tiny trick rider in the arena.
  • trick_rider_1
    Gravity-defying skills from a trick rider.
  • bulldogging
    Wild cow milking looks like a lot of trouble for very little milk.
  • bronco_3
    Sunday’s bronc competition kicks hard.
  • bronc_5-2
    All hooves off the ground and he’s still in the saddle.
  • calf_roping
    A cowboy catches one in the calf roping competition.
  • swingin_country_band
    Country Swing Band puts out the tip jug and plays some tunes.
  • barbecue_2-3
    Breathing in the sweet smell of barbecue.
  • barbecue_1
    A member of the pit crew serves up barbecued beef.
  • zipper
    Only slightly less scary than the bulls, the Zipper spins and swoops at the carnival.
  • boy_at_carnival_1
    Not every cowpoke is tall enough for the rides.

Jennifer Fumiko Cahill is the managing editor of the North Coast Journal. She won the Association of...