Great Plains Stampede Rodeo welcomes Altus Airmen

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class J. Zuriel Lee
  • 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
ALTUS, Okla. --  The 36th Annual Great Plains Stampede Rodeo opened by welcoming Airmen from Altus AFB during their military appreciation night at the Great Plains Stampede Rodeo arena Aug. 21, 2014.

The rodeo is an annual event, and began with the 16th Annual Cattle Drive on Altus AFB before leading the longhorn cattle to the arena for the event.

The event started with a barbecue dinner for the Airmen, followed by a Tug-of-War competition, in which the 97th Operations Group defeated last year's champions, the 97th Security Forces Squadron.

The rodeo is one of the events that allows community members and Airmen to come together and enjoy the things that are unique to Altus.

"This is my first rodeo and it's really exciting," said U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Coral Rojas, 97th Air Mobility Wing administrator. "Being out here gave me the opportunity to experience this. I'm really happy to have had the opportunity."

The rodeo consisted of events like the barrel racing, bull and bronco riding and steer wrestling.

"It's neat. It's a cultural experience and something that I am not used to," said U.S. Air Force Capt. Kristen Seitz, 97th Medical Operations Squadron family advocacy officer. "I'd never seen a rodeo before moving to Altus, and neither had my kids. It's another piece of the world."

The rodeo will continue through Aug. 23, 2014.