Sunday, September 21, 2008

Sioux Falls, South Dakota is a large city for Dakotans.  It has a population of 125,000 and it has plenty room for more.  People keep busy here at all hours of the day.  The family that I stayed with never really slept too much.  They were doing farm/barn work early in the morning, competing in the Rodeo in the

afternoon, and dancing at night.  Falls Park is the city’s main attraction.  I went there yesterday and saw a couple pictures taken for weddings.  The downtown has one main street with bars/restaurants and modern shops, unlike Rapid City.  You’re not going to find diversity in this state, although the largest native American population is in South Dakota.  It’s hard to find a Chinese or Indian restaurant around here.  I’ve been eating burgers almost every night. 

I leave for North Dakota after the Rodeo today.  I wouldn’t mind staying another year in South Dakota.  I really enjoyed my experience in this state.  A lot of firsts for me; tractor driving, Rodeo Announcing, horseback riding, steer wrestling, running along corn fields, dressing as a Cowboy, meeting Cowboys, meeting American Indians, first news appearance, getting bit by Asian Beetles, and driving a lawnmower. 

The only thing that I haven’t experienced was riding the bull.  I have one last chance for that today……….

Saturday, September 20, 2008

The South Dakota Rodeo Finals started last night.  Over 150 athletes competed for the top 4 spots that earn money in 12 different events.  The same athletes (riders) will get three chances to earn money; Friday- Sunday.  If you’re really good, riders could earn a great living.  Sioux Falls hosts the largest Rodeos in the state, but I’m not nervous trying to announce this weekend.  Last night, I had the chance to promote my project in front of the crowd.  People started calling me “50,50.”  I didn’t really do more than shadow the two announcers last night, but tonight I am more prepared and ready to be on the microphone. 

It’s not easy to announce for 4 hours straight without any pauses.  Most announcers do get practice with their other jobs.  One of the announcers does auctioning fulltime around the Midwest.  They get paid BIG BUCKS. 

Off to the Rodeo…..

Oh by the way, I am going to miss South Dakota.  It has been one of the best weeks I have ever experienced.  I will write more about the people and the city of Sioux Falls later.

Thursday, September 18, 2008

If you want to find a downtown that has nothing but Antique and Boutique shops, go to Rapid City.  The Western part of the state also has the Sturgis Bike Rally, but I was 2 weeks late for that event.  I don’t think I would’ve gone anyways, unless I had my scooter. 

I really enjoyed the Western part of the state, but I had to head east to work the South Dakota Rodeo Finals.  The drive to Sioux Falls was interesting.  I passed through the Badlands, which you should probably search for better pictures since I didn’t have time to take any of my own.  Along Interstate-90, you’ll see billboards and billboards advertising “Wall Drug.”  I had to find out what it was all about.  It is the largest drug store in the world with a lot of history; search for that too.  Lastly, I spent the night near the Corn Palace, which is a gymnasium that is made of corn.  It’s the world’s largest bird feeder.  The city of Mitchell has to rebuild it every year because of the birds.

Wednesday morning, I finally made it to Sioux Falls.  I showed up to the Fairgrounds to help set up for the Rodeo.  I thought there were going to be a bunch of Cowboys putting fences and gates together, but I was wrong.  There were only inmates from the State Prison that were putting the Rodeo together.  They get paid $1 an hour, that’s why the Rodeo Association hired 15 of them.   Apparently, they all knew about my project and gave me the nickname “50.”  Most of them were sent to prison because of drugs and alcohol, so I wasn’t too intimidated working with them. 

Today was another experience of a lifetime.  I jumped on the tractor to fix the arena’s Rodeo dirt.  I had just enough time to practice for the news stations that came to interview me.  I almost ran one of the employees over because I am not very good with the clutch.  There’s a first time for everything.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

I’ve got to admit, South Dakota is much better than I had pictured.  The week has started out well and hopefully it will end well.  Sunday night, I was hosted by the Rodeo Announcer, Sugar Ray and his family.  It’s fun to watch television with an announcer.  He was constantly doing voiceovers with each commercial and show.  A voice can’t get any more natural than Ray’s to announce at Rodeos or any other sport. 

The next morning, I was planning to head over to Sioux Falls, but got caught up inside a Cowboy shop.  The shop was called, “Star of the West Hat Company.”  If you ever want to buy a cowboy hat, call Brad because his hats and knowledge of anything related to Cowboys is amazing.  Brad hosted me the next night and brought me to meet his family.  His eight year old daughter asked, “are you staying here tonight?”  “Yeah,” I responded.  “Oh, cooool.”  It was funny how excited she was to show me every picture that was in the house.  Every house that I ever stayed in South Dakota has at least 20 Rodeo pictures hanging on the wall. 

If you don’t know how Rodeos operate, here’s what I’ve learned:

The horses, bulls, or any other animals used in Rodeos come from Ranchers (stock contractors.)  The Ranchers will typically get $100 per ride of their stock.  The athlete (rider) enters a competition with an entry fee.  The winner will get the jackpot of all the entry fees, plus another award if the Rodeo sponsor

chooses to do so.  Rodeos typically operate with support of a dozen sponsors.  Rodeos are very expensive to host, even the Rodeo Dirt costs $8,000. 

Some Cowboys tried to get me to eat Mountain Oysters and then I searched it on the Internet and well search it yourself and find out.

Monday, September 15, 2008

I arrived to the Rodeo looking like I was from out of town.  “How could I be an announcer looking like this?” I thought to myself.  Luckily, by the time the event started, locals donated Cowboy gear to me.  One of the most generous locals donated a hat plus two shirts.  “I don’t need this many shirts Bill.  I already got one from Earl,” I said.  “Oh you’ll need them for the Rodeo dances in Sioux Falls.”  Bill also gave me a book about the history of Rodeos in his hometown.  “I’ll have a lot of reading tonight,” I thanked him.  He was telling me stories how Cowboys and Indians brawled after the Rodeos like a tornado through town.  That would’ve been good footage. 

Ray Quinn, the announcer introduced me up to the booth.  He told the crowd, “We have a gentleman from California that is doing 50 Jobs in 50 States.  He chose Rodeo Announcing to represent the State of South Dakota.  He will be coming up here to announce alongside of me.  I really got to know this nice young man last night on the golf course.”  He actually told the crowd about my incident with the golf cart.  It calmed my nerves down though.  I took the microphone from Ray’s hand and well, I can’t wait to get the video posted.  It was an experience of a lifetime.  It’s funny how I have never been to a Rodeo and now I got the chance to announce for one.

Sunday, September 14, 2008

The drive to South Dakota was one to remember.  I slept over night in Cheyenne, WY which was an extreme culture shock.  Nothing looked familiar.  There was a Wal-Mart, but the downtown looked like the only people that existed were Cowboys and Indians.  The clothing shops only had Cowboy outfits.  I figured that I should probably buy an outfit to fit in at the Rodeo.  On the way to the Rodeo Saturday morning, I crossed through Nebraska and saw a Cowboy riding his horse along with highway followed by a car.  Horses don’t like to be cramped up in a trailer for too long, so the owners take them out and run the alongside the trailer on the highway. 

I finally arrived to one of two Rodeos that I will work.  Oelrichs, South Dakota was the site of the first Rodeo.  Oelrichs is probably one of the smallest towns that I will ever make as my destination.  I felt like I was in the countryside of France or Italy.  The landscape in Western South Dakota is much hillier than I thought.  I actually had the chance to play golf with some of the Rodeo staff and riders at the end of the day. 

I have never attended a Rodeo in my life and it was obvious that I didn’t fit in.  The Rodeo Announcer that I am working with told the crowd on the loud speaker that I am doing 50 Jobs in 50 States.  “If you see a guy walking around with his camera, welcome him and answer any questions that he may ask.”  Everyone was very cordial, but we’ll see what they think of me after I start announcing tomorrow...