3 Quarters Today

My Life, my photography, my passions

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Sidney Iowa Rodeo

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Welcome to the Sidney Iowa Rodeo

Rodeo is an American sport, born and breed in the Great West. Tradition, patriotism, respect, and family values are celebrated at the start of every rodeo with the American flag and a tribute to the US military.

Opening of the Sidney Iowa Rodeo
Opening of the Sidney Iowa Rodeo
Saddle bronc at the Sidney Iowa Rodeo
Saddle bronc at the Sidney Iowa Rodeo

The Sidney Iowa rodeo is no exception and 2012 celebrated their 89th year with 339 cowboys participating in the five-day event. The talent and quality of stock was definitely better than what I saw the week before at the Wahoo Nebraska rodeo. While both were PRCA sanctioned events, Sidney takes it to a whole different level.

Sidney, Iowa Rodeo Sidney Original Vintage Postcard

Calf Roping at the Sidney Iowa Rodeo
Calf Roping, just look at the horse, he knows what to do

Sidney Iowa has a population of about 1,500 people and hosts more than 38,000 people during five days. To this small town come professional cowboys that are nationally ranked in the top ten and perform in the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.  This meant watching a large percentage of full 8 second rides and few missed throws in the roping competitions.

Barrel Racing
Barrel Racing, times in the low 17 second range
Bull riding at the Sidney Iowa Rodeo
Bull riding at the Sidney Iowa Rodeo

 Learn More About Rodeo History

The RideArena Legacy: The Heritage of American RodeoCowgirl Up!: A History of Rodeo WomenRodeo History and LegendsBlack Cowboys of the Old West: True,Fearless Funnymen: The History of the Rodeo

Famous Rodeos and Cowboys

Bud Sankey to be inducted into the Kansas Cowboy Hall of Fame

… national finals in bareback, saddle bronc and bull riding and now runs Sankey Rodeo Schools and Equipment in Branson, Mo.; Ike Sankey runs Sankey Pro Rodeo in Joliet, Mont., and contracts the livestock for some of the most famous rodeos in the world.
Cottonwood roper to compete in Red Bluff Round-Up Rodeo

“It’s one of the most famous rodeos,” he said. “It’s an awesome rodeo, the whole nine yards. It’s a rockin’ crowd, good announcers, good added money.” On the side, Davis trades horses. Since he spends all day on horseback he’s putting time and training …
Northern rodeos buck trend – Stock Journal

Carrieton is a tiny town but stages one of the most famous rodeos in the region. While Marrabel Rodeo is the oldest – the first was 75 years ago – Carrieton is the longest-running consecutive rodeo, and last December …
10 Top Tourist Attractions in Canada – Touropia

The Calgary Stampede, one of the most famous rodeos in the world, traces its origins back to the traveling wild west shows of the late 1800s and early 1900s. The Stampede has grown over the years, today attracting the best …
Travel Online: America’s Wildest Rodeos

One of the most famous rodeos in the world, the Stampede features 6 major events: bull riding, steer wrestling, racing, tie-down roping, saddle and bareback riding, and offers payouts up to $100,000 in each category.

 

 

Day 122/365: Windpower, Past and Present

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OnOne Effects: Graduated Blue and Magic Hour
Wind power today and yesterday
Photo REDO with Lightroom 4 (more realistic to what I really saw)
Windmills and Wind Farm SOOC
Windmills and Wind Farm SOOC

The world has come full circle in it’s use of energy. Harnessing wind power was used for hundreds of years as evidenced by this windmill in the foreground used to pump water into a livestock tank.  In the back are modern wind turbines in Western Iowa.

Iowa leads the United States in wind energy, more than 15% of the electrical power is generated by 47 wind farms across the state. This particular farm is part of the Adair Wind Farm. Don’t let the distance fool you, these modern wind turbines are huge. The base at the bottom is fifty feet in diameter and they stand 263 feet tall with each turbine being 126 feet in length.

Massive and impressive. Many people think they are eyesores to the landscape. Personally I find them graceful, serene, and peaceful from a distance, the rotating blades create a hypnotizing effect with their consistent rhythm. But then I don’t live right next to them either.

UPDATE:

7/2012: Second image was processed using Lightroom 4. As I’m going through my old photos I now have the tools to improve them and thought I would repost a few blog articles. 

Thanks for the suggestion Victoria, I had forgotten about the graduated blue action on the OnOne software.