WALDRON — Shine up your buckles. Dust off your boots.
It's Saturday night and one thing is almost a sure bet. Somewhere, in some small town, there will be a rodeo.
This time, it's Waldron. The Scott County Fairgrounds is full of horse trailers. Arriving by truck,car or horseback, families show up for some entertainment.
Boys wearing cowboy hats and Wranglers are perched on the fence around Ragsland Arena.
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Similarly attired adults fill the bleachers and lawn chairs, awaiting the start of the show.
Anyone with a horse can circle the arena before the formal procession begins. Most of the adults share their saddles with little ones, while kids old enough to ride alone lope proudly by.
Saddle bronc and bull riders are getting their riggingsready - hoping tonight will be the one that they take home the buckle and check. Many will go home with the satisfaction of having competed with only a few bruises to nurse.
"I really enjoy it. It's about the only time I get to be free," says Lane Barber, a contestant from Miller County. "I was telling this other guy, who just started and said he was waiting for a check, that here I am, 15 years later, still waiting for one."
The procession enters the arena. Riders are clad in red, white and blue outfits and are waving flags. The crowd rises to its feet, and hats are removed and placed over their hearts for the national anthem and thecowboy prayer.
Saddle-bronc riding, the first event, is guaranteed to get the crowd going. After a few other events, a voice blares over the loudspeaker: "All 12 and under that want to compete in the calf scramble get into the ring."
Children scale the wire fence, dropping onto the soft sand of the arena. Lining up on the back fence, some inching closer, they await the call to begin. One, two ... and off they go, the two calves run to the other end, pursued by dozens of cowboys and cowgirls. Two winners later and back over the fence they go to their proud parents.
Steer dogging, team roping, barrel racing, mutton busting - the events roll on, but most are waiting for the "show" - bull riding - what most come to see.
This night, they weren't disappointed. Six riders give it a go. The bulls leap, sometimes completely going airborne. The riders, one arm up, are jerked violently to and fro, hanging on, not wanting to fall off and become a target for the bull. A couple make it to 8 seconds. One has a great ride but is bucked into the gates before the buzzer goes off.
As the dust settles, the satisfied fans head for home. The riders, still in one piece, do the same. They have a week to heal until another Saturday night in another Arkansas town.
Style, Pages 19, 24 on 05/29/2007