Roy Pioneer Rodeo- Unexpected Scene in Washington (Tacoma, WA)

Rodeo is one of the representative types of American Western culture. 
Rodeos in Wyoming or Montana are more representative than in Washington.
But there is a rodeo held every year in a small town called Roy not to far from where I lived in Tacoma, Washington.
 

Roy Pioneer Rodeo is held in June and September every year. Finally, I visited this rodeo on September 5. It started at 1:30 PM. 

Since Roy is a lesser known small town, I didn’t expect many people. Even the people guiding the cars at the parking lot were riding horses- fitting the rodeo image.

The admission was $13 per adult and I got stamped on the top of my hand for admission after payment.

There were snack and wine bars.
People started coming in and all the seats were filled in no time, which was not what I expected. Many people were wearing cowboy hats, and before the rodeo started the national anthem played.
 

Rodeo

The competitive sport of rodeo grew from the working practices of cattle herding in several countries, including Spain, Mexico, and later the United States, Canada, South America, Australia, and New Zealand. Competitions are based on some of the skills used by the working vaqueros (in Spanish speaking countries) and later, cowboys in the areas that now comprise the western United States, western Canada, and northern Mexico.

These days, a rodeo is a sporting event that involves horses, bulls, and other livestock, testing the skills and speed of the competing cowboys and cowgirls. Rodeos in the U.S. generally include tie-down roping, team roping, steer wrestling, saddle bronco riding, bareback bronco riding, bull riding, and barrel racing. The events are divided into 2 main categories: rough stock events and the timed events. Depending on the sanctioning organization and region, other events can include breakaway roping, goat tying, or pole bending.

American rodeo, particularly popular throughout the western United States and Alberta (Canada), is the official state sport of Wyoming, South Dakota, and Texas. The famous silhouette image of a "Bucking Horse and Rider" is even a federal and state-registered trademark of the State of Wyoming.

 

This is first time I saw a rodeo, so everything was interesting and I was impressed by not only the cowboys, but also many cowgirls. 
But there was an eye sore as well.
Two young cows were used for some of the games and I felt like it was animal abuse.

Many people gathered at the bar behind the stage. All the people were checked for their IDs (to make sure they were of legal age to buy alcohol) and no one complained about it.

It was a little boring for me other than the horse rodeo. I came out before finishing, missing out on the rodeo with bulls unfortunately. 
When I come out, to my surprise, I was shocked that it seemed like the entire town of Roy had turned into a parking lot. I realized the strong interest in rodeos with this fully filled parking lot. 
 

*This posting was translated. Click here to read the original version.