But sometimes Greeley's history became darkened with tragedy, one of the risks the rodeo cowboy takes.
1989 - About halfway through the rodeo events, a 21 year-old cowboy, Shawn Dubie, of Cheyenne, was thrown from a bucking horse and kicked in the head. He remained in a coma, dying several months later in a Denver hospital.
1992 - On July 1, during an evening rodeo performance, well-known rodeo clown Jeff Grigby collapsed in the arena and was rushed to the hospital. He died a short time later of a brain aneurysm. Later, doctors reported the brain injury occurred several weeks earlier when a Las Vegas rodeo bull fell on him.
But with the bad news comes even better news for the competing professional cowboys. In 1997, the prize money increased, placing Greeley rodeo among the top ten in the world. (The 2000 Rodeo cowboy's competed for over $352,000 in cash and prizes.) There was also an unveiling that year of the 15-foot bronze sculpture of the saddle bronc rider, titled "When Champions Meet."
Greeley is one of those rodeos where the entertainment never stops. With entertainment such as parades, professional wrestling, country dances, a demolition derby, carnival and their stupendous fireworks display, this is a rodeo not to miss.
Yet the main reason I attend this event is to watch the rodeo and marvel at the perseverance, stamina and sheer "bull-headed" stubbornness that keeps a cowboy (or cowgirl) rodeo-ing.
Check out the Greeley Independence Stampede on line at www.greeleystampede.org.
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