The Durfey Family: World's Fair 2011!

The fair this year was a completely different experience for me from all the other years. Being on crutches, after having my ACL replaced and both my meniscus' fixed, turned me into somewhat of a fun hater. We woke up early Friday morning to take Brody to participate in the Gymkhana. The first event was the barrels. Brody and Custer went through the gate really fast but Brody didn't have a good handle on him and was riding with way too long of reins. The run did not go as planned to stay the least. This resulted in Brody having a temper tantrum and it taking me a long time to get him settled down again. My logic...him and Custer are a team and sometimes your teammate has an off day too. Brody really listened to me and when he went in the arena for the next event he was ready. While running the poles Brody heard the announcer state that it looked like Brody had given "Old Yeller" a talking to and got some things straight. Brody came in first in this event. I don't know who was more impressed with his run, Shane, Allen, Brody or myself. Out of the four events Brody participated in he came in 1st in two of them. The poles and the keyhole. He had the fastest time out of all the age groups in the keyhole...coming in at just 9.3 seconds. I was especially proud of him being as how he had just started riding his horse again less than 2 weeks before the competition. Good job buddy!

Waiting for the results.

1st place in the Poles...a blue ribbon and $15.00

1st place in the keyhole...once again a blue ribbon and $15.00. He was very excited.

I had mentioned to Shane that maybe I wouldn't do the rodeo this year. I told him I thought that it might wear me out and I was a little concerned sitting in the crowded bleachers with a hurt knee having kids climb back and forth across me. Sitting at home a couple of nights before the night of the rodeo I heard Shane call and sign him and Brody up for the hide race and him and Richard Fillmore up for the wild cow milk. When he got off the phone I said, "I thought we weren't doing the rodeo this year." He reminded me that Brody had asked last year if he could do the hide race so I needed to go and at least watch that event and then I could go home.

At the end of the Gymkhana Rich Cropper asked Shane if he would like to be his roping partner. Shane informed him that I had a doctor's appointment in Gunnison and didn't know if we would make it back in time to rope in the slack that started at 5:00. Rich really wanted Shane to rope with him so we made an extremely FAST trip to the doctor. On the way back from Gunnison Shane received a phone call from someone else looking for a partner to rope with. I think his name was Colby Christensen. Shane told him that he wasn't very good but the kid didn't seem to care. This was about the same time that I found out Lance and Shane were also entered in the Maiden Race. Wow...we went from not even going to go to the rodeo to being entered in it 5 times.

We had to make a stop in Salina for a quick bite of lunch and to get the kids some boots. While we were waiting at the drive-in, there were a couple of little girls there checking out Brody. I don't think they realized that I was his mom. It was really funny hearing them say how cute he was and that he was a "real" cowboy. (Because he still had his spurs and number on from the Gymkhana.) I was telling Brody about it when we got back in to the car and he was not amused. I thought it was cute.

Brody helping Chad Lyman work the steers in the slack.

I can totally see why the girls were checking him out.

Shane backed in to the box ready to go.

And they're off! Shane is just a little behind.

Rich missed for Shane.

Next run...Colby catches but Shane had a rough time getting his horse out of the box...

...Shane misses for Colby. Dang it! I made the comment to Allen later that night that it sure was nice seeing Shane back in the saddle again. It has always been such a big part of his life.

Happy to be helping.

Just about time for the rodeo to start. What cute little buddies. And yes...look at Brody's hair.

Wild Cow milking time. Sizing up the competition.

It took Richard a minute to catch but as soon as he did...Shane was all over it!

Hurry Richard...get off your horse.

I don't know who is winning..Shane or the cow.

Just get some milk Richard!

And he's off. Run Richard run. He's not quite fast enough and the Brown brothers (Skip and Jody) win again. Shane and Richard have come to the conclusion that they will participate in this event until they win and then they will give it up. I reminded them that in order to be a true champion you have to be able to defend your title. Good job guys.

Brody watching the events from a better view point. He really liked watching the rodeo this year.

So this is the Maiden Race. Shane had to line up at one end of the arena and run to the other end of the arena.

When he got to the other end of the arena he had to put on this dress and then jump up on the barrel and wave his arms in the air like a Maiden in distress. That would be Lance's cue to run down on his horse and pick Shane up. Lance asked Shane right before the event if Shane wanted the horn or his arm to get on. Shane's response..."You just stay on your horse and I'll get on". Kent was totally amazed at how fast Shane got on top of the barrel. "He just jumped up with both feet and landed on top of it" he said. As we were watching Shane wave his arms we realized that Lance hadn't even left the other end of the arena yet. That triggered a holler from Allen "Lance get down there...what the (beep) are you doing?" Lance must have heard him because he took off like a rocket. When he got to the barrel he hardly even slowed down when Shane jumped on behind him and they were off.

Arriving at the finish line with neither one of them falling off the horse, and taking first place in this event. Good job Sweetie...way to be a woman!

Brody getting in position for the Hide Race. He was so excited to do this event. When he asked his dad what horse they were going to use Shane told him probably Junior. Brody wasn't very happy about that. He said Lance had told him that Junior was slow and lazy and he wanted to use Buster because he was a faster horse.

Shane on Junior getting ready to go. Beggars can't be choosers.

Brody didn't waste anytime getting on the hide. He wasn't scared a bit.

At the finish line. Emptying the dirt out of his helmet and clothes. He really enjoyed this and is already talking about doing this event again next year. Junior never did stretch out and run like he should have so Brody is already trying to think of a different horse he can use.

I must say that the rodeo this year was probably my favorite fair rodeo that I have ever been to. It makes a big difference when there are people you know in the events. I really enjoyed the non-traditional events like the maiden race, keg race, trailer race, and hide race. I think they were a lot more entertaining than the rest of the rodeo. I am super glad that Shane decided to participate this year which in turn encouraged me to stay.

The next morning was the parade and after the parade we went to the park for games, entertainment and food. Haylie had the opportunity to participate in a cheerleader clinic the beginning of the week and then do her little cheerleader act in front of the spectators at the park. They cheered/danced two different times. She really liked doing the cheerleader camp this year and said it was a lot of fun.