Yeeeeeehawww! The Rodeo's In Town!

By Aaron Bailey in Arts & Entertainment on Aug 26, 2005 2:05PM

If you need your fill of gay cowboy action before Brokeback Mountain hit theaters, you're in luck. Cowboys and cowgirls from across the country are galloping to our fair metropolis to compete in the Windy City Rodeo 2005 this weekend.

Being held at a ranch in Crete, IL, the two-day event features such competitions as pole bending [teehee], bull riding, bareback bronc riding [oh my!], steer riding, chute dogging [uh huh], team roping and three events held exclusively at gay rodeos: "steer decorating, goat dressing, and the wild drag race."

They're certainly not joking when they say, "This ain't yer daddy's rodeo."

The Daily Southtown interviewed Chicago cowboy George Grayson, who explained how he got started with the rodeo: "I got roped into it. A friend of mine who competes regularly in a three-person event called wild drag had a partner who didn't show up, so she asked me to help out. As long as I was in the team competition, I signed up for a solo steer wrestling event." Where in Chicago does one practice steer wrestling?

Admission is $10 each day, and tickets may be purchased at the gate. For all y'all horseless city slickers, bus service from the city is available (312-409-3835 for more information).