Backyard rodeos could be riding off into the sunset; costs, low turnout, liability fear are main concerns

Backyard rodeos have a long tradition in rural America, introducing children to the sport in a friendly environment that encourages competition as much as it does camaraderie. But the high costs of hosting an event, low turnouts, and fear of liability are threatening the very existence of backyard rodeos in places like Iowa, where they once flourished, John Eligon reports for The New York Times. (NYT photo by KC McGinnis: Barrel racing at a backyard rodeo)

"Rodeo enthusiasts in Iowa say they remember a time when they did not have to drive far to find a neighbor hosting a rodeo," Eligon writes. "But as the cost of livestock and feed has increased, and as liability concerns have made insurance a necessity for home rodeo organizers, many people folded their backyard operations because of the expense."

Wayne Fisher, who hosted backyard rodeos on his Iowa farm for more than 20 years, stopped three years ago because he lacked time and the number of contestants kept dwindling. He told Eligon, “It’s a sad thing. It teaches kids a lot of stuff. Not just rodeo, either — camaraderie. Everybody competes themselves, individually. They build a lot of friendships.”

That's why some people, like Mitzi Fleming, still bring her children to Deep River, Iowa, to Widmer’s Rock ’N Roll Arena, to experience one of the last remaining backyard rodeos in the state, Eligon writes. "There are many small rodeo events on rural patches throughout the country, but backyard rodeos like the one on the Widmers’ ranch separate themselves with a blend of competition and camaraderie. Here, the charm of sipping hot chocolate while exchanging friendly banter is as important as how fast someone can rope a calf." Fleming told Eligon, “It’s somebody’s home. They’re welcoming in their home. That’s what’s unique.” (Read more)