Burnett Family

I hope ya’ll like lots of pictures and videos, ‘cause you are going to get your fill by the end of this post! Just in case you don’t know, I absolutely love rodeos, especially in our small town in southern Oklahoma! Ranch rodeos are different than regular rodeos, because ranch-hands from ranches (mostly in OK and TX) compete against each other. I love all of the boots, jeans, buckles, hats, chaps, lassos, spurs, all the cows and horses, and cowboys and cowgirls, all the grit and grime of hard working people, and the dirt flying from under the hooves of buckin’ animals! Boy howdy, bring it on!

To see this group of tough, country ranchers bowing their heads in prayer, with their hats over their hearts in respect for the Lord, wow , that will give you the goose-bumps!

And the first event to get us started off was muttin’ bustin’! This little guy won and for the third year in a row! ( I betcha’ he’ll be on a bull in a few of years!)

This is my absolute favorite event of the ranch rodeo…wild cow milkin’! You want to see some absurd, hysterical, rough, WILD, action? It’s all right here! (See the guy holding the tail? That’s what we call…Oklahoma ski!)

Here is a close-up view of wild cow milking.

I had to put this one up because it shows the whole  “Oklahoma ski” thing!! (Diggin’ the guy’s  green “cactus” boots!)

Talk about a classic cowboy!

Benjamin and all his “gear”  (yes, including the pickle :)

This looks good, cowboys and cowgirls…….

RIGHT ON! These guys really know how to “git ‘r’ done!”

Charity, Abbie and Hannah enjoying the rodeo!

Sorting. (If I had the choice to compete in any event, this is what I’d choose!)

Steer riding! Ride em’ cowboy!

This wild event is called muggin’. The video below shows it all!

Calf “branding”. One guy ropes the calf, two guys flip it over and hold it down, while the last guy runs the “branding stick” from the bucket (stick with chalk on it) to the calf, “brands” the calf, then runs back to the circle (to return the stick.) The goal is to see how fast you can do this. The quickest team was 37.27 seconds!

    Kids in line for the calf scramble. Whoever gets the ribbon off the calves’ tails first, wins money. (There are about 4 calves.)

Wow, this bronc got so worked up, he knocked himself over!(I think the guy got a re-ride.)

In regular rodeos, if you touch the bronc with your hands,  you’re disqualified, but in the Ranch Rodeo, the more you hit and slap around on the horse… the better!

Yeehaw! (Love the purple chaps!)

So, there is a little glimpse of a small town rodeo. And  just for fun, I want you to comment and put what the first word is that comes to mind after reading this post. ;o)

Ya’ll have a great weekend!

Hey Ya’ll! Here are the promised Stratford rodeo pictures!!! I got a little carried away, so sit back and enjoy ‘em ALL! :)

2011 – Rodeo Queen with ol’ Glory.

This is one of the judges. Classic. :)

Pausing for prayer.

…We train ‘em young. :)

Ok! Let’s get this show on the road with Bronc Ridin’! This is one of my favorite parts! :)

“Team Roping”

“Steer wrestlin’”

“Mutton Bustin’”

“Barrel Racin’”

Charity and Caleb

Gloria Fagala, Carinna, and Abbie

Hannah and J-C

“Calf scramble” All these kids are tryin’ to chase down 3 calves and grab ribbons off their tails.

“Tie-down”

The best way to describe the Wild Cow Ride is to show you the video! =D This event is special to Stratford’s rodeo, from what we hear.
WILD is definitely the right description.

“Bull Riding”

“As long as there’s a sunset, there will always be a West.”

Well folks, we’ve had so much going on around here, we thought we’d give you a little update. :)

Because of the county burn ban, we couldn’t shoot off fireworks, so we went to the Pauls Valley park to watch theirs. It was the classic, all-American, 4th of July celebration! Everyone was spread out on the football field with their lawn chairs and picnic blankets, vendors were selling hamburgers and other good stuff, and there was a general, happy spirit of excitement. :) Once the sun set and the stadium lights were turned out, everybody laid out and ooh-ed and aah-ed over the dazzling fireworks while patriotic music played away! We were filled with pride and love for our country and grateful for all those who have given and are giving their lives to protect our freedom. I love America!!! We are unspeakably blessed. Thank You, Lord!

A couple of our cousins joined us for the firework show…we had a grand time, as usual. Yay for cousins!! =D

This time of year also brings another festivity to celebrate in our area…

The 35th annual Stratford Peach Festival is coming up this Saturday, July 16th!

Preparations for our homemade peach ice cream booth are well under way – it takes a team!

Now, we can’t let the leftover, golden juice go to waste…

…so, jelly it becomes!

Y’all are welcome to come on down and join us for the fun day! Of course, it’s going to be scorching hot, but if you have to endure the heat anyway, why not be enjoying a cup of cold, homemade peach ice cream while you’re at it? ;) Better hurry down, though, because we usually sell out soon after lunch!

Our main goal is to let the Lord’s light shine through our testimony as we work together and interact with people. Please be praying!

Oh, and don’t forget we have a rodeo, too. It’s become tradition for our family to go on Saturday night after a long day’s work of selling ice cream. We’ve got the “rodeo itch” and look forward to some good calf-ropin’, barrel racin’, and bull ridin’!! Yeeehaaaawwwww!

Pictures to come! =)

Click on the pictures to view them larger and read a short description. Enjoy!