Familiar faces turn out for 60th annual Homestead Rodeo

In the chilly January air, Rick McAllister showed his 4-year-old son the cowboys, horses and bulls at the Homestead Rodeo.

''It's my son's second rodeo,'' McAllister proudly said.

McAllister, a lifelong Homestead resident, is starting the tradition early of bringing his preschooler to the annual rodeo, now celebrating its 60th year.

Indeed, to McAllister, the rodeo is all about tradition.

''In all my 43 years, I've never missed one rodeo. You have to keep the tradition alive and support the rodeo,'' he said.

Others thought so, too.

Locals joined tourists in gathering over the weekend to enjoy the rodeo.

Despite the struggling economy, local residents wanted to support Homestead and the rodeo that has become a long-standing tradition.

''The rodeo is such an icon and a ritual in Homestead. If you don't support it, you'll be lost without it,'' said Homestead's Tina Strano, 42.

She looks forward to the rodeo every January.

Strano's favorite event is the women's barrel racing.

Sitting with her friends and family, she explained how the tradition began in her family.

''I've been going to the rodeo for the past 32 years or so and I've been taking my daughter ever since she was a baby. She really loves it,'' Strano said.

During the rodeo, children pressed their faces against the red gate to get a closer view of the bull riders and cowboys, while rodeo clown Slim Garner entertained the crowd and taught children how to use their green lassos.

Dust filled the air as the bull riders exited the gate with the bucking bulls.

The crowd favorite -- bull riding -- had the audience cheering and stomping their feet.

The audience chuckled as bulls with names like Terminator failed to impress and one named Snoopy bucked wildly.

Gasps filled the air as two bull riders lost a boot during their ride.

Women's barrel racing had the women hooting and hollering to support each racer to the finish line.

In between events, ''Texas Kid'' Rodney Hayes with his steer Billy the Kid and two 11-year-old partners who make up the Pony Express wowed the crowd as they performed tricks on top of a trailer and a see-saw.

Meanwhile, Homestead's own Everglades Posse displayed its horsemanship and performed a routine.

For those who wanted to do more than just watch the action, a mechanical bull was provided for adults to ride, while pony rides attracted the kids.

The rodeo, though, was more than just theatrics to McAllister as he sat greeted old friends in the crowd.

''It really is like a reunion here,'' McAllister said. ``It's the same faces every year, they just get a little older.''

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