If you ever really want to experience real fourth of July fun, get yourself to a town so small there's not even a stoplight.
I spent the holiday weekend with my Boyfriend Chad and his family in the small Lincoln County town of Karval. It's the kind of place where you can visit the local cafe or Calf-A as it's called in this rural farming and ranching community...come here and you'll find old men sitting around talking politics and cattle. You'll find couples who've been been married 40 years or better. And you'll find people who really know how to put on a great fourth of July celebration.
It started with a competition at the local arena...it's a rodeo type arena. There were contests for the kiddos in the morning. There was a goat roping event, barrel racing, and one that I really loved the father-daugher rider rescue. The dad rides his little girl down the arena to the end and drops her off where she waits. The dad returns to the gate where they start a timer, he rides down and bends down to pick her up where they race back together for the best time. Little future cowgirls decked out in pink boots, some with spurs, some with pigtails.
The little ones (under five) competed in an event where they ran to grab a ribbon off a goat's tail and raced back. There was also an event where they ran to put on their boots.
Later the adults competed in roping events all afternoon.
For dinner, everyone brought a dish for a pot luck in the park. Chad's brother Travis was one of the ranchers who donated the pig which was totally delicious BBQ!! There was apple pie, brownies and just about every kind of dessert you can imagine....watermelon of course too.
When everyone was good and full, fireworks lit up the night sky over the arena. As the show wrapped up, the band warmed up across the street in the fire station. It was basically a big garage where they moved out the truck so we all could dance. Dads danced with their daughters, who already knew how to two-step. The little boys danced with their moms. Everyone brought coolers with their beverage of choice, some people even brought their dogs who settled under the tables.
All of this was true small town America. I had a blast. I can't wait until next year. If you ever want to really have a good time....spend your evening in a small town. Notice how people can be so happy with so little. It was simple and yet simply amazing!
I spent the holiday weekend with my Boyfriend Chad and his family in the small Lincoln County town of Karval. It's the kind of place where you can visit the local cafe or Calf-A as it's called in this rural farming and ranching community...come here and you'll find old men sitting around talking politics and cattle. You'll find couples who've been been married 40 years or better. And you'll find people who really know how to put on a great fourth of July celebration.
It started with a competition at the local arena...it's a rodeo type arena. There were contests for the kiddos in the morning. There was a goat roping event, barrel racing, and one that I really loved the father-daugher rider rescue. The dad rides his little girl down the arena to the end and drops her off where she waits. The dad returns to the gate where they start a timer, he rides down and bends down to pick her up where they race back together for the best time. Little future cowgirls decked out in pink boots, some with spurs, some with pigtails.
The little ones (under five) competed in an event where they ran to grab a ribbon off a goat's tail and raced back. There was also an event where they ran to put on their boots.
Later the adults competed in roping events all afternoon.
For dinner, everyone brought a dish for a pot luck in the park. Chad's brother Travis was one of the ranchers who donated the pig which was totally delicious BBQ!! There was apple pie, brownies and just about every kind of dessert you can imagine....watermelon of course too.
When everyone was good and full, fireworks lit up the night sky over the arena. As the show wrapped up, the band warmed up across the street in the fire station. It was basically a big garage where they moved out the truck so we all could dance. Dads danced with their daughters, who already knew how to two-step. The little boys danced with their moms. Everyone brought coolers with their beverage of choice, some people even brought their dogs who settled under the tables.
All of this was true small town America. I had a blast. I can't wait until next year. If you ever want to really have a good time....spend your evening in a small town. Notice how people can be so happy with so little. It was simple and yet simply amazing!
No comments:
Post a Comment