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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (July 24, 1997)
Paul Castor watches along the fence as the 23rd annu al Walthill Memorial Rodeo begins on Sunday, July 20, 1997. His leather worn face watches the children along the fence. His job for the evening is to make sure that the kids don’t get too close to the action in the arena. Castor helped start the rodeo 23 years ago. “Most of the people that started the rodeo are dead now.” says Castor, “That’s why we call it the Walthill ‘Memorial’ Rodeo. The lightness of his voice reflects the golden glow of sunlight as it sets on a plus 90 degree day in n ortheast em Nebraska As the local chapter of the VF.W. (Veterans of Foreign Wars) gave a salute to America, the crowd grew silent. After the National Anthem was sung the cowboy car nival began. Rodeo competition included bareback rid ing, calf roping, ladies breakaway roping, saddle bronc riding, ladies steer undecorating, steer wrestling, ladies goat tying, team roping, ladies barrel racing, and bull rid ing. Behind the scenes the cowboys and girls prepared for the events and talked casually to one another. Reggie Roth, from Wolbach, kept an eye on his son and daugh ters, who accompanied him on the trip. Roth competed in the saddle bronc riding. He had a short ride that kept him from winning. Mark Peterson won the competition with a perfect ride. In the stands the locals talked of the events and of times gone by. An elderly man talked of how he farmed 300 acres with 20 horses. As the world changes some things will last. The role of the rodeo in the farming com munities is as baseball's role to Chicago. The rodeo is the rural slice of Americana. When Castor helped start the rodeo, he said it was “just somethin’ to do.” “I’m gettin’ ready to tie it up though.” said Castor, as he remarked on how long the rodeo has lasted.
