Rodeo goes on in spite of arena condition

August 12, 2015 at 6:00 a.m. | Updated August 12, 2015 at 6:00 a.m.

As the national anthem is sang, Old Glory is carried around the arena on horseback at the beginning of the rodeo.
As the national anthem is sang, Old Glory is carried around the arena on horseback at the beginning of the rodeo.

The rodeo was on at the Moniteau County Fair on Wednesday, Aug. 5, even though about an inch and a half of rain fell the day before soaking the main arena.

It made for a difficult time for the horses, steers, calves and rodeo riders. One of the rodeo personnel, who had gotten off his horse to take care of a task in the arena, commented that his boots weighed about 10 pounds each with all the mud.

With so much mud, roping became more of a task and tying a calf after it was taken down was near impossible with the muddy hands and piggin strings. With good footing impossible in the muddy arena, steer wrestling also became a tough task. Even the rodeo clown, Todd Pettigrew, found the mud something that slowed him down.

Even with all of the problems, the livestock and the rodeo cowboys braved the elements and slogged on to present a rodeo experience for the enjoyment of the fans.