Tres Pinos
– Hollister resident Bill Hawkins, 84, has been attending the
local rodeo since the early 1930s and was seated in the front row
of the Bolado Park arena on Sunday. Although some things have
changed, he lauded it because the core has remained the same.
Tres Pinos – Hollister resident Bill Hawkins, 84, has been attending the local rodeo since the early 1930s and was seated in the front row of the Bolado Park arena on Sunday. Although some things have changed, he lauded it because the core has remained the same.
“They have kept it pretty traditional,” Hawkins said.
Hawkins pointed out the San Benito County Saddle Horse Show and Rodeo is one of the few to have many junior events – and also to feature the figure-8 roping competition.
Family and tradition – and the pursuit of a little bronco-bucking excitement – drew more than 7,500 people to the 74th annual San Benito County Saddle Horse Show and Rodeo over the weekend.
Many came to see a relative compete.
Hawkins was there watching one of his granddaughters. But he said he would have come even if he didn’t know any of the competitors – “because of the tradition.”
While Hawkins may have had an enviable seat for watching the rodeo, Jake Bourdet, 5, and Trent Low, 7, had claimed the best seats in the park to watch the show Sunday.
The two cousins, who had competed in the best working outfit competition, sat on the sidelines after their showing to enjoy the cowhide race, their favorite competition.
Perched on the fence dressed in crisp button-up shirts and cowboy hats, the boys talked about the rodeo while admiring their trophies and ribbons.
Trent explained that competing didn’t make him nervous anymore.
“I thought it was pretty fun doing it,” he said.
Saddle Horse Association President Mike O’Connell said he’s happy the rodeo has so many young children turn out – both to compete and to watch.
“We had a lot of young kids coming this year, so I could see this continuing on,” O’Connell said. “Hopefully, people are finding out about us and starting to realize that we have good family values. That’s really who our target audience is.”
O’Connell said he hoped word-of-mouth would lead the show to sell out next year. This year, attendance increased by around 500 visitors, with 7,563 people over the three days, and there were around 20 more contestants, with 346 this year.
Garrett Mansmith, 4, watched the rodeo with his grandmother, Jeanie Garbini, while his mom competed.
Garbini has been attending the rodeo for many years to watch her daughter showing. This year, Garrett also showed, entering in the Best Working Outfit competition.
Garrett was excited about his prize ribbon and the $5 he received. He planned to spend it at the dollar store.
He said he felt lucky while competing because of the special belt his mom had won years ago at the rodeo.
“It was my mom’s when she was a little girl,” he said.
