According to google, the “National Day Of The Cowboy” falls on the last Saturday in July. So we all post our version of a cowboy picture on social media. To me though and many others I  know this day is a little more than a hashtag …it’s life. I  was sitting at home watching the Cowboy Channel reruns of one of many Timed Event Championships at The Lazy E Arena, being replayed in honor of the national holiday we’ve been dubbed. I thought about this little series I  posted here on the blog about my dramatic 😉 confessions of growing up a Rodeo kid. I  figured today would be as good of a day as any to add my next part. Because as I’ve grown up I’ve come to realize these old rodeo reruns aren’t just reruns of my Dad’s career….they’re reruns of childhood.  Then I thought about how it’s pretty cool that when watching the past days of my Dad’s career…I watched my whole family and people that might as well be family cross the screen. Not a lot of kids have that to watch back. Certain arenas and rodeos hold a lot of memories for me…like the Lazy E, I  have not only watched my Dad rope there time and time again but my little brother won his first big win in that same arena, in the same box, this past May. As soon as it clicked on I  recognized my grandpa and Earl…a family friend I’ve known since I  can remember watching on (Speaking of Earl there he is in that picture above say hi everyone 😉 ) What does it mean when you say your Dad’s actual job is being a Cowboy.

I  give you a little Sierra at the Lazy E…..probably asking if she can buy something from a booth over there…..(not much has changed)

National Day of The Cowboy recognizes the cowboy and all the traditions he carries on. Like good friends…good horses and family right? It’s still always been more than a job, it’s the lifestyle….it’s our life. (as cliche as that may sound) One of the many things the cowboy has been called is a family man……well families a pretty big part of the lifestyle because everyday is take your kid to work day as I  said in my previous blog. Family though includes a few other people like maybe your traveling partner….and of course the most important business partner you have…that horse.

I  guess you could say that in my life everyday has been a “day of the cowboy”, but when I go back and think about it…..I  wouldn’t want it any other way. The job of a “Rodeo Cowboy” has never been an easy one. My Dad did not have an 8-5 job that gave him certain vacation times and weekends off. Theres was no average salary, and all the benefits I’ve come to learn about as a college student. He worked a lot of weekends….he still does. When you grew up a rodeo kid your Dad’s office was usually just a shot out the backdoor in the practice arena. I  was there a lot of the times with my Mom in the stands when he achieved the big moments in his career, he didn’t just receive a raise at the office and come home. I  watched it happen. There is a lot of time spent down the road…family time may not be at day at the park…I’ve seen a lot of cool places cooler though is that I saw them with my parents in the backseat of a rodeo rig…and I’ve seen some pretty boring places too, it’s all been a part of the job. Family vacations aren’t always at the Disney resort….but in my opinion you can’t beat a few days fishing after the rodeo in Estes Park OR even better a day at Seaworld during Salinas. 

“The Cowboy” is not just a romantic figure in old westerns that rides off at the end. It really is a job, and it is a way of life. “The Cowboy” He’s my Dad, our friends, the job, the horses, the family, the way of our life AND it’s a huge part of me getting to sit here and have this blog, play dress up with the brands I  do, write for the magazines that I  do…go to the events I’ve been to. I  guess you could say in today’s world that means my homies have always been Cowboys 😉 (Even though I  may deny it sometimes)