{"id":2447536,"date":"2019-08-14T09:52:00","date_gmt":"2019-08-14T15:52:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/rodeos-roots-contribute-to-family-appeal\/"},"modified":"2019-08-14T09:52:00","modified_gmt":"2019-08-14T15:52:00","slug":"snowmass-rodeos-roots-contribute-to-family-appeal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/local-news\/snowmass-rodeos-roots-contribute-to-family-appeal\/","title":{"rendered":"Snowmass Rodeo\u2019s roots contribute to family appeal"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"swift-gallery p402_hide\" readability=\"6.8672501823487\">\n<ul id=\"imageGallery-311173-942\" class=\"gallery list-unstyled\">\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/08\/rodeo-svs-081419-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/08\/rodeo-svs-081419-1.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times | Aspen cowgirl Taylor van Zyl competes in the barrel racing event on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019, at the Snowmass Rodeo. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"11\">\n<p><strong>Aspen cowgirl Taylor van Zyl competes in the barrel racing event on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019, at the Snowmass Rodeo. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/08\/rodeo-svs-081419-1.jpg\" alt=\"Aspen cowgirl Taylor van Zyl competes in the barrel racing event on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019, at the Snowmass Rodeo. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/08\/rodeo-svs-081419-1-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/08\/rodeo-svs-081419-1-1.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times | Kids chase down calves as part of a game during the Snowmass Rodeo on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10\">\n<p><strong>Kids chase down calves as part of a game during the Snowmass Rodeo on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/08\/rodeo-svs-081419-1-1.jpg\" alt=\"Kids chase down calves as part of a game during the Snowmass Rodeo on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/08\/rodeo-svs-081419-1-2-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/08\/rodeo-svs-081419-1-2.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times | A child takes part in the popular mutton busting competition during the Snowmass Rodeo on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10\">\n<p><strong>A child takes part in the popular mutton busting competition during the Snowmass Rodeo on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/08\/rodeo-svs-081419-1-2.jpg\" alt=\"A child takes part in the popular mutton busting competition during the Snowmass Rodeo on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/08\/rodeo-svs-081419-1-3-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/08\/rodeo-svs-081419-1-3.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times | Aspen cowgirl Taylor van Zyl competes in the barrel racing event on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019, at the Snowmass Rodeo. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"0\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"11\">\n<p><strong>Aspen cowgirl Taylor van Zyl competes in the barrel racing event on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019, at the Snowmass Rodeo. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/08\/rodeo-svs-081419-1-3.jpg\" alt=\"Aspen cowgirl Taylor van Zyl competes in the barrel racing event on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019, at the Snowmass Rodeo. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/08\/rodeo-svs-081419-1-4-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/08\/rodeo-svs-081419-1-4.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times | People compete in the ribbon roping competition during the Snowmass Rodeo on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10\">\n<p><strong>People compete in the ribbon roping competition during the Snowmass Rodeo on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/08\/rodeo-svs-081419-1-4.jpg\" alt=\"People compete in the ribbon roping competition during the Snowmass Rodeo on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/08\/rodeo-svs-081419-1-5-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/08\/rodeo-svs-081419-1-5.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times | A bronc rider competes at the Snowmass Rodeo on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10\">\n<p><strong>A bronc rider competes at the Snowmass Rodeo on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/08\/rodeo-svs-081419-1-5.jpg\" alt=\"A bronc rider competes at the Snowmass Rodeo on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/08\/rodeo-svs-081419-1-6-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/08\/rodeo-svs-081419-1-6.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times | A bull rider competes at the Snowmass Rodeo on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10\">\n<p><strong>A bull rider competes at the Snowmass Rodeo on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/08\/rodeo-svs-081419-1-6.jpg\" alt=\"A bull rider competes at the Snowmass Rodeo on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/08\/rodeo-svs-081419-1-7-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/08\/rodeo-svs-081419-1-7.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times | A bull rider competes at the Snowmass Rodeo on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-0.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"10\">\n<p><strong>A bull rider competes at the Snowmass Rodeo on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)<\/strong><br \/>Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2019\/08\/rodeo-svs-081419-1-7.jpg\" alt=\"A bull rider competes at the Snowmass Rodeo on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"caption-toggle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/snowmass\/rodeos-roots-contribute-to-family-appeal\/#\" class=\"show-captions\">Show Captions<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/snowmass\/rodeos-roots-contribute-to-family-appeal\/#\" class=\"hide-captions\">Hide Captions<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText DropCap\">The sky was dark, the floodlights were bright and Taylor van Zyl was ready.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Sporting a long braid, cowgirl hat, colorful paisley shirt and a smile, the 27-year-old Aspen native and her horse, Reba, trotted into the muddy Snowmass Rodeo arena to take on the night\u2019s barrel race competition.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">As the team started facing away from the three white plastic barrels placed in a T-shape, gleaming beneath the stadium lights, the rodeo announcer briefed the crowd on the feat at hand. A few women had competed before van Zyl and Reba, so they needed to weave through the barrels in less than 17 seconds to take home the first-place title.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">And with a quick a face up and explosive shot forward, van Zyl and Reba did just that.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cWhile racing you\u2019re just in the moment trying to remember a million things at once,\u201d van Zyl said of her recent win at the Snowmass Rodeo. \u201cBut after, I felt like things were finally starting to come together. \u2026 Hard work pays off.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Van Zyl isn\u2019t new to rodeo. She grew up working with horses, started barrel racing when she was a freshman at Aspen High School, and went on to compete in rodeo for two years at Colorado State University.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">After graduating college with an equine science degree and minor in agriculture business, van Zyl started two businesses: VZ Performance Horses, where she helps train and raise horses; and most recently Pair A Dice Carriages, where she showcases horse teams at weddings, private events and during carriage tours up and down the Roaring Fork Valley.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cIt\u2019s my whole world,\u201d van Zyl said of working with horses either professionally through her work or competitively through the rodeo. \u201cI have no idea what I\u2019d do otherwise. It\u2019s helped me be responsible, motivated and a self-starter.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">According to van Zyl, this summer competing in the Snowmass Rodeo and others in the area has been a test run. Based on her race times and finishes, she plans on taking her rodeo game to the next level in summer 2020 by competing in larger, professional rodeos across the state.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">But despite her big-time aspirations, for van Zyl, the Snowmass Rodeo is special. It\u2019s her hometown arena and full of competitors she grew up with.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cThere\u2019s a special camaraderie here. It\u2019s like one big family,\u201d van Zyl said before the Aug. 7 rodeo, pointing out women she\u2019s been riding with and competing against since she was in high school. \u201cIt\u2019s a cool atmosphere and fun to put on a show for the locals.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">At the Aug. 7 rodeo, that family atmosphere was palpable from start to finish. The weekly Wednesday summer event kicked off with a family style barbeque, featured traditional bull and bronco riding events alongside kids\u2019 mutton bustin\u2019 and calf scramble competitions, and ended with s\u2019mores around a fire pit.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">For more than 46 years the Snowmass Rodeo has aimed to engage local and visiting families in this fashion and introduce them to a lifestyle they may be unfamiliar with.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cA lot of the people who show up have never been to a rodeo before,\u201d said Jim Snyder, president of the nonprofit behind the local rodeo, the Snowmass Western Heritage Association. \u201cIt\u2019s one thing Snowmass has that Aspen doesn\u2019t, \u2026 and when people come, they always come back.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Snyder has been working on the Snowmass rodeo grounds for more than 26 years. He feels the summer cowboy and cowgirl competition series is reflective of the strong ranching and farming community that once inhabited the Snowmass area, which development has greatly diminished.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cIt\u2019s been a big part of my life and an important part of our community,\u201d Snyder said of the rodeo. \u201cAnd this year has been a record-breaking season with record crowds, more than we\u2019ve ever had before.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Darce Vold, executive director of the Snowmass Rodeo, has been working with the local rodeo for over 30 years as its stock contributor \u2014 meaning the buckin\u2019 bulls and broncos are hers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Like Snyder, she\u2019s seen the rodeo evolve into a much smaller venture over the years but also into a tighter knit family and sought after event, especially over the past year. Many of the rodeo\u2019s original founders and competitors are still involved somehow, Snyder and Vold said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cWe want to continue to make the rodeo better, which doesn\u2019t necessarily mean bigger,\u201d Vold said. \u201cPeople enjoy it, it\u2019s something fun to do, it\u2019s affordable and it provides wholesome family entertainment.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">From a small area between the rodeo arena floor and the announcer\u2019s box, Vold stood and watched the competitions Aug. 7. She\u2019d blow kisses and gesture at her bulls to get out of the arena after they bucked off their riders, predict how cowboys would fare against her broncos with James Bond-inspired names, and light up when the young people and families joined in on the fun.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">All of Vold\u2019s brothers and sisters are in a similar position as she is, raising and managing rodeo stock animals. Her whole summer from March to late August is spent here, in Snowmass, and her Wednesday nights in here, on the rodeo grounds.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">At the end of the most recent rodeo, families made their way to their vehicles, the Town Park bus stop or the fire pit for s\u2019mores.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Vold made her way to the gated area behind the arena, where she set her broncos free into the nearby pasture, counting each one as it ran past. In a week, she\u2019d be back here, running through a similar set of motions and working to put on a great family rodeo for all attendees alongside the people who\u2019ve helped keep it going for decades \u2014 and hope to see it continue for decades more.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cWe just do what we do best and the people come,\u201d Vold said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText Tagline\"><a href=\"mailto:mvincent@aspentimes.com\">mvincent@aspentimes.com<\/a><\/p>\n<p> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/snowmass\/rodeos-roots-contribute-to-family-appeal\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">via:: The Aspen Times<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Aspen cowgirl Taylor van Zyl competes in the barrel racing event on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019, at the Snowmass Rodeo. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times Kids chase down calves as part of a game during the Snowmass Rodeo on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019. (Photo by Austin Colbert\/The Aspen Times)Austin Colbert\/The Aspen [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-2447536","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-local-news"},"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-06-25 00:21:18","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"KSPN The Valley&#039;s Quality Rock","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2447536","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2447536"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2447536\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2447536"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2447536"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2447536"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}