ProRodeo Sports News - June 25, 2021

“It’s like America is getting back to normal. It’s great to look up into the crowd and not see a bunch of people wearing masks. Nobody is there in fear. They are living again. Rodeo is Americana type of people, and freedom is our thing. We found out last year how non-essential rodeo clowns, rodeo announcers and rodeos were. We weren’t one of those they pushed to have. The crowds are now up at rodeos or sold out. The energy level is twice as high. These people have been cooped up for a year and a half, and they are finally out, and they are out with their friends again having fun. It is good for the soul, and I feed off the crowd all the time. When they are into it and having fun, it throws gas on my fire.”

Award-winning rodeo clown/barrelman John Harrison performs at the Coleman (Texas) PRCA Rodeo June 12. William Kierce photo

JOHN HARRISON Clown/Barrelman

“I feel like there were a couple of different perspectives. First, it kind of re-establishes a sense of normalcy that we are out on the road and doing this again. It also rejuvenates you a little bit, especially at a rodeo like Weatherford. They set record crowds at Weatherford. When you come out of a situation like the pandemic where people couldn’t gather and there was social distancing, and you go back to an event like that, especially in a cowboy place like Weatherford, it rejuvenates you, why you’re doing what you’re doing and what you love about it. You could feel the energy in the whole place. It was great.” JOSH EDWARDS Pickup man

Pickup man Josh Edwards smiles as he gets ready to do his job at the Parker County Sherriff’s Posse Frontier Days and PRCA Rodeo in Weatherford, Texas, June 11. Joe Duty photo

ProRodeo Sports News 6/25/2021

ProRodeo.com

33