Yee-haw!
Above and right: Curt Folev of North Dakota State University spurs for points
during his six-second bull ride Saturday, then dismounts on the run.
Protesters absent from rodeo
From Staff Reports
This weekend’s 34th Annual Col
lege Rodeo was minus one event—a
protest from the Greater Nebraska
Animal Welfare Society over the use
of animals in the competition.
During last year’s rodeo, about 40
members of GNAWS, an organiza
tion concerned with the humane treat
ment of animals, picketed the Ne
braska Slate Fairgrounds.
But the group did not protest this
year’s rodeo because “break away”
ropes were used for the calf-roping
event, said David Dicr, a member of
GNAWS. Such ropes arc considered
to be more humane.
%
“(Rodeo officials) arc making an
effort this year,” he said. “We felt we
could make a concession.”
Calf-roping is a crucial issue for
the group, he said, because calves
have had their necks broken during
the event.
Dicr said the group also was upset
by the use of electric prods to force
animals out of chutes and the treat
ment of animals by stock contractors.
Contractors supply animals for ro
deos.
“There are other ways to entertain
without harming animals,” he said.
“Rodeos arc a modern-day gladiator
sport.”
Photos by William Lauer
Crowds round up for rodeo
riutn Ocd// nuporis
Sitting on 2,(XX) pounds of wrench
ing, swirling beef is not what most
athletes would call a club sport.
But bull riding was one of nine
events featured during the 34th.An
nual College Rodeo, sponsored by
the University of Nebraska Rodeo
Association and the Lincoln Journal
Star.
About 100 cowpokes from 10 col
leges across the Midwest competed
Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the
State Fair Coliseum.
“Everyone in our region tells us
it’s the biggest and the best (college
rodeo),” said George Pfeiffer, faculty
adviser for the University of Nebraska
Lincoln Rodeo Club.
The rodeo, sanctioned by the Na
tional Intercollegiate Rodeo Associa
tion, is popular locally, Pfeiffer said.
Saturday night competition usually
draws standing-room-only crowds.
And rodeo is more than a one
weekend-a-year contest, he said. Many
students compete every weekend from
now through Labor Day.
Ryan Lindsey, a six-year rodeo
clown veteran from Burwell, said he
worked 30 to 35 rodeos a year.
Participation in rodeos has increased
since he became involved in the sport,
he said.
“There’s always kids wanting to
learn.”
Left: Rodeo clowns Scott
Moore (left) of Blair, Ryan
Lindsey of Burwell, and
Scooter Engelhaupt of
Lincoln dress in clowns’
sartorial ^plen^or.
Above: Engelhaupt ready
for show time.
Top: Andy Knudson of North Dakota State University tapes his wrist before bareback riding
to prevent strained muscles.
Above: UNL junior Greg Beebe exits the shoot starting his bareback ride.