Catch the last rodeo before summer this week

Lou Marzeles
Editor and Publisher

     It’s almost summer. It says so right on the calendar, though one would be hard pressed to tell it from the actual weather. The longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere is this Monday, when the rays of the sun will be perpendicular to the Tropic of Cancer (remember that if you’re ever on Jeopardy), and here we’ll have about 16 hours of daylight.
     Many of these long days are best spent outdoors, where, let’s face it, sunlight is best observed and experienced. Last weekend was the Pioneer Picnic—the 100th year it’s been held—and Rodeo in Bickleton, and it was its usual crowd pleaser. This weekend is the Ketchum Kalf Rodeo up in Glenwood, which, being a few microdegrees higher in latitude, has an ever-so-slightly longer day than Goldendale.
     The rodeo is the sport of men and women adored by chiropractors and physical therapists, and a lot of other people just like to watch it. Where else can you observe such things as the 30-yard cowboy toss, in which bulls see how far they can fling a live human?
     Rodeo is the sport for Klickitat Countians, a hardy lot who enjoy long, warm days and the animals that provide them sustenance.
     So head for the hills this weekend, up to Glenwood and a great time. It won’t quite be summer, but it’ll be close enough, and you’ll be able to get more than close enough to some furry fun and excitement. There’ll be rough riding, good grub, music and merchandise, kids’ games, and a rodeo queen. It’ll be fun.