American Rodeo

I never feel less American than I do at Montana Rodeos. I feel like a foreigner, a visitor, observing what it means to be American. I don’t know if this is because I spent my more formative years living abroad or if it is because Montana Rodeos are such an exaggerated display of what it means to be American that any other ‘American experience’ pales in comparison. At a rodeo, being American means wearing your cowboy hat, but removing it for the National Anthem; it means buying bags full of beer to bring to the bleachers; it means Rodeo Queens displaying incredible athleticism as they ride around the arena controlling their horses with one hand and carrying an American flag in the other with a full face of makeup on; it means corn on the cob and elephant ears; it means bareback and bull riders looking like they’re made of rubber for their 8 precious seconds of competition; it means brute strength and niche western skillsets; being American at a rodeo means knowing how to handle yourself in the wild west.

These are some photos from two Montana Rodeos- one in Big Timer, MT and the other in Livingston, MT.