Saddle up

The rodeo's come to town Wantage — The rodeo came to Green Valley Farms on Saturday, Oct. 22, and the community turned out for the spectacle. Complete with barnyard barbecue, live rodeo and live country band, the event offered cowpokes and country folk a chance to see bareback and saddlebronc riders, steer wrestling, tie down roping, a girls barrel race, calf scramble, team roping and bullriding. The calf scramble had children from the crowds come into the ring to grab the orange ribbon from the calf tail to win a prize. Local businesses got together to sponsor the rodeo with Green Valley Farms and the Tallamy Family. They hope to make the rodeo an annual October event. There were plenty of portable johns, though the lines were long. There was plenty of food. Vendors had anything cowboy for the asking, even spurs. The children's activities included making your own pony on a stick, coloring contests, roping a steer, free apples, face painting and more. A harvested corn field served as the mega parking lot and there was lots of help to direct drivers in and out safely. Most brought their own chairs and blankets, which filled the hillside over the arena — just right for watching the activities of the rodeo.