Photo By Cpl. Garrett White | A participant in the Barstow Rodeo Stampede ropes a calf in the calf roping portion of...... read more read more
MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE BARSTOW, Calif. - This year marked the 28th annual Barstow Rodeo Stampede on Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, Yermo Annex, Calif. With events such as bull riding, calf roping, and barrel racing, the rodeo put on a show to remember for spectators.
“We started the rodeo in 1985 because a gentleman talked to me about the Western days,” said Mal Wessel, founder of the Barstow Rodeo Stampede. “I thought, what better way to bring back the Western days than a traditional rodeo?”
Twenty-eight years later, the rodeo is still a big part of the community.
More than 2,000 people attended the event to see cowboys and cowgirls participate in each event, explained Wessel.
This rodeo brings people from Barstow together to enjoy two fun filled nights, said Wessel. The community also gets to see each other in a happy environment and join each other to cheer on the participants.
This year the rodeo had bull riding, bronco riding, barrel racing, roping, and muttin-bustin for the kids. Muttin-bustin allows children, with parental consent, to ride a sheep that runs around the arena. The child who holds on the longest wins a prize.
“The nights of the rodeo, we have all different (types of) people show up,” said Sgt. Edgar Torrealba, stableman with the Marine Corps Mounted Color Guard on MCLB Barstow. “We have people come from farm areas and city areas.”
The significance of the rodeo is to bring in the people of the High Desert, show them hospitality and put on a great show, so they remember how fun it was and come back next year, he added.
“In the last three years I have participated in the rodeo, it has gotten better and better,” said Torrealba. “Each year the riders get better, the ropers get better, and the crowd gets bigger.”
The people out in the stands cheering happily is what is important, explained Wessel.
“The rodeo is for families,” said Wessel. “We encourage families to come out because it’s good, clean family fun. It’s something everyone can enjoy, no matter what age you are.”
The rodeo is a great place for family and friends with its throw-back feel of the Western days. It’s a night everyone can enjoy.
If you missed out and want to join the festivities next year, visit barstowrodeostampede.com, for more information.
| Date Taken: | 10.02.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 10.02.2013 18:01 |
| Story ID: | 114631 |
| Location: | BARSTOW, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 89 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Barstow holds 28th annual rodeo, by LCpl Norman Eckles, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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