TravelWorld International Magazine Fall 2022

Riders have only just burst from the
box and the first rider has already
flung his lasso at the calf’s neck.
Heart of the Nation
- An Iowa Rodeo -
Story and Photos by Steve Tambosso
12
ne of the most enjoyable
things about my annual
summer road trip, (which I
call the “Retirement Doesn’t
Suck Tour”), is seeking
out events, like rodeos,
that provide fabulous photo
opportunities and great subjects
to write about. During my threemonth
sojourn, traveling over
11,000 miles around the US this
summer, I stumbled upon a special
one, occurring over the July 4
weekend, in the town of “Leon”
Iowa. This was a celebration of
their 59th annual rodeo.
As I hadn’t contacted the
organizers prior to driving
there, I just showed up a day
before the event hoping that my
NATJA credentials could work
some magic. Once I had arrived
on the grounds, I hunted down
the head honcho/committee
chairman “Mark Smith”. I
introduced myself, presented my
media pass, and offered to write
an article about their rodeo and
provide his committee the use of
my photographs in exchange for
access to the event. To my pleasant
surprise Mark loved the idea and he
graciously offered me a parking spot
in their staff-row for my trailer and
even access to the shower block.
This was mid-west hospitality at
its finest and a huge “thank you”
goes to Mark and the committee
for making this a great experience.
I stayed there for four fun-filled
days, soaking up the ambiance of
the small-town rodeo and capturing
some of its great images.
As I wandered the grounds before the
opening ceremonies each night, scoping
out the best photo locations, I soon
noticed that I was probably the only
adult male in the arena (and possibly all
of Iowa) not wearing a long-sleeved shirt
and a cowboy hat! Somehow, I always
manage to stick out from the crowd.
Since it was the 4th of July weekend
the arena stands were tightly packed
and the “Red White and Blue” fluttered
from pretty much everything that
stood upright. Brisket smoke from the
numerous blazing barbecues lazily
wafted through the air while a constant
flow of country music blared from loud
speakers. I could almost taste the food
sizzling all around me just by breathing
in deeply. This was an “Americana”
holiday weekend at its best, which was
very good!