Rockyford BRC: The Mud, The Shark Tank, and the Tuesday Hustle

The Mud, The Shark Tank, and the Tuesday Hustle

    I always try to arrive early when I’m shooting a new town, just to get the lay of the land and see what the community is all about. Yesterday afternoon, driving down the wide streets of Rockyford and looking at those century-old false-front buildings, it gave off that immediate, homey feeling of a place where people actually put down roots.

    They say "it takes a village," but when I pulled into the Ag Society grounds for the 11th Annual Bull-A-Rama, I saw that phrase in literal motion. The Rockyford Lions Club, the Ag Society, and a massive crew of volunteers put on a masterclass in how to run a community bull-a-rama. Despite the threat of rain lingering in the background all night, the grandstands were completely jam-packed. Nobody was worried about the weather; they were just there for quality bull riding.

The Mud and the Mutton

    Before the big bulls loaded, the dirt was pure slop, making for some of the best grassroots entertainment you can put in front of a grandstand. With over 20 kids registered for Mutton Bustin', we saw the full spectrum of human emotion—from total wrecks and crocodile tears to kids dusting off the mud and giving a perfect rodeo wave.

    Then came the Wild Pony Races. With 10 to 12 teams out there, those ponies were completely wound up and rank. Not one single team managed to get a rider on. We had kids getting dragged straight through the mud and ponies bolting before the teams even got close. Pure chaos, zero qualified rides, and absolute top-tier entertainment.

The Tuesday Vibe Behind the Chutes

    There is something unique about a Tuesday night rodeo. The entire mood behind the chutes was different—laid back, relaxed, and chatty. It was incredible to see the riders recognizing what this studio is doing, asking how to get ahold of the photos, and appreciating that my lens is out here to promote them and the sport of rodeo in the most positive, gritty light possible.

    That relaxed vibe translated directly to the dirt. The four different Stock Contractors who showed up brought an absolutely stellar, evenly matched pen of bulls. The rides were hard-fought. We had local boy Kade Christensen getting a solid ride in, and another young rider suffering absolute heartbreak when he hit the dirt at 7.97 seconds, just a fraction of a breath away from the buzzer.

    But the night belonged to Keian Munroe. Keian kicked the entire night off with an 81.5. Things have been tight for him lately, but after a big win at an amateur rodeo over the weekend, he walked into Rockyford with a massive boost of confidence, and you could see it in his posture. He actually paid his entry to ride twice in the long round. Even though he got bucked off his second draw, that first 81.5 locked him into the short round, where he sealed the deal and won the entire event.

The Shark Tank and The Lifesavers

    The Lions Club brought a unique feature to the arena: a massive oval Shark Tank. Before the bull riding kicked off, they auctioned off seats inside it for 6 to 8 people to watch a batch of rides at ground level. They kept auctioning it off throughout the night, with the final winners getting to watch the entire short go from the cage. A few of those bulls took a real interest in the tank, and a couple of riders actually had to use it as cover when things got western.

    But when cover wasn't an option, the bullfighters stepped up. They were put to work last night, and they were absolutely outstanding. I watched Mr. Leather take two massive hits on the ground while doing his job. Both times, he bounced right back up, and you could see the sheer gratitude on the riders' faces, thanking him for taking the hit so they didn't have to. I made sure to keep the camera firing after the whistle to capture those guys—the unsung heroes of the dirt—doing exactly what they do best.

    Hats off to the volunteers, the contractors, and the village of Rockyford. If this was just the lead-up to their Pro Rodeo at the end of July, it is going to be a massive show.

Lee Kemp

Every Moment Is A Choice Studio (Check out the 1-minute time-lapse of the 12-minute firework finale over on the Emiacstudio TikTok!)

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