So, we went to prison !
Yes, I fully realize that me being in prison might not surprise too many people, although I've never been convicted of any crime worthy of putting me behind bars.
Well, there WAS that one time in college back in the 70s.....
Oh, never mind; I wasn't convicted of anything and didn't spend a single minute in prison.
Anyway, we decided to attend the Angola State Penitentiary Spring Rodeo yesterday.
Nicknamed "The Wildest Show in the South", the Angola Rodeo was presenting its 47th annual spring rodeo.
Started in 1964, the Angola Rodeo began as a recreational activity for the inmates and prison guards, and was originally closed to the public.
But once its popularity grew, the prison took notice of the economic possibilities and began selling tickets and building seating for the patrons.
It is now the oldest operating prison rodeo in America, and it is estimated to bring in around $450,000 A DAY in revenues to the prison.
It was definitely a sight to see!
The gates opened at 9:00am, and My Better Half and I arrived around 10:00am.
Although the rodeo itself didn't begin until 2:00pm, there was plenty to see and do prior to the start of the rodeo.
The inmates - I guess the inmates that have earned the right to - had set up booths displaying the crafts they had made.
Patrons could browse through the various booths and purchase everything from inmate-produced jewelry, furniture, paintings, sculptures, leather goods, and even plants and vegetables grown on the prison farm.
There are carnival-type rides for the kids, pony rides, and a wide assortment of concessions including typical "fair fare" like corn dogs, jambalaya, crawfish, cotton candy, popcorn, hamburgers, and fried candy bars!
The rodeo itself begins with a Grand Entry, where Angola Rough Riders enter the arena at full gallop and the colors are presented.
Then comes the Bust Out, whereby all six chutes open simultaneously, releasing six angry bulls with temporarily attached inmate cowboys. The last inmate to remain on his bull is named the winner.
Other events include bareback riding, a wild horse race, bull-dogging, wild cow milking and the ever-popular bull-riding.
Remember, the participants are prison inmates - most of whom have little or no experience whatsoever in riding horses, riding bulls, and milking cows!
A few were carted away on stretchers and loaded into a waiting ambulance to be taken to the prison hospital for treatment. I guess to them, a short stay in the hospital is better than anything else that awaits them following the rodeo!
The rodeo ends with two of the most popular events: Convict Poker and Guts and Glory.
In Convict Poker, four inmate cowboys sit at a table inthe middle of the arena playing a friendly game of poker. Suddenly, a wild bull is released with the sole purpose of unseating the poker players. The last man who remains seated at the poker table is declared the winner!
In Guts and Glory, a poker chip is tied between the horns to the meanest, toughest bull available. The object here is for the participating inmates to get close enough to the bull to snatch the poker chip off the bull's head - and hopefully live to tell about it!
On Sunday, the poker chip was worth $1,000 to the winner!
We enjoyed the prison rodeo so much, we're already making plans to return for the fall rodeo in October and take the kids and grandkids!
Until next time...
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