For many fans at this year’s Santa Maria Elks Rodeo, it was not, as the saying goes, their first rodeo. But for this humble narrator, it was, and after attending my first rodeo, I can safely say it was an experience.
Driving through the sprawling Elks Unocal Event Center on a late Thursday afternoon, the first thing I noticed was a very active but small group of animal rights protesters screaming with signs. While they were enthusiastically exercising their right to protest, rodeo attendees seemed unaffected by the furor.
Once inside the event, it was easy to become overwhelmed by the amount of activities. Wading through the mass of people to the other side of the venue proved well worth the effort as the musical styling’s of Josh Gracin filled the smoky late afternoon air. Gracin was one of a handful of highly touted performers that graced the stage during the course of the four-day rodeo.
This year’s version of the Elks Rodeo was substantially bigger than those in the past. Organizers made an effort to bolster the event in 2017 by attracting top-tier riding talent and setting up many scenic sitting areas. The competitive events, which took place later in the day, featured several athletes who were at or near the top of the ranks in their respective events.
“It has gotten much bigger because now it is national and it is televised this year,” Elks member and event organizer Frances Brawner said a the rodeo. “We have done much more TV and radio spots in preparation for the event this time around.”
A Santa Maria resident, Brawner is one of several Elks Club members who dedicated most of their week free of charge in preparation for the large-scale event. The volunteers, clad in bright red long-sleeve collared shirts, were varied and helpful. Not enough can be said in gratitude to the men and women who helped make the rodeo easily accessible and enjoyable for the thousands that visited over the four days.
Thursday morning at the Elks Rodeo had that dedication in full display, much to the delight of both elderly Elks members and families with small children. The Elks host a kids’ rodeo event early in the day that includes of typical rodeo activities, but retrofitted for the younger generation.
“My favorite part about the rodeo if I am going to be really honest is the Thursday mornings when we do the mini rodeo for the kids,” Brawner said. “I like watching the kids’ happy faces when they see the rodeo and all the other activities we have to offer.”
Even when the real rodeo rounds start up later on in the day, families have no problem finding ways to have fun and keep their kids busy.
“There are lots of engaging things for the kids to do, and it’s great for them to see animals running strong and in full stride,” Charlotte Pettit, a mom from Orcutt, said. “It’s much better than a zoo, and my son likes the competition part of it.”
For those more concerned with the opportunity to watch high-level professionals do what they do best, the Elks rodeo also has a great deal to offer spectators. Some of the most exciting events to watch include bareback riding, steer wrestling, tie-down roping, barrel racing, and bull riding. With total cash prizes at nearly a $100,000, the 2017 Santa Maria Elks Rodeo was able to attract some of the best rodeo talent out there including French bareback rider Evan Jayne and champion calf roper Hunter Herrin.
Whether you are interested in the competition or other activities, there’s nothing like a day at the rodeo, whether it’s your first time or not.
Sports contributor Keenan Donath can be reached through Managing Editor Joe Payne at [email protected].
