Cowboy Christmas in July

Tis the season for Christmas - Cowboy Christmas, that is.

Not for mistletoe and sleigh bells, or hot chocolate (unless it is frozen), but for mad dashes across the country as rodeo athletes seek to increase their chances for qualifying at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo this December in Las Vegas as well as earn additional income.

Typically, rodeos around the 4th of July pay more than the rest of the year. And there are a plethora of rodeos for contestants to choose from. 

Because of this frenetic, hectic season with the opportunities for big payouts and solidifying the possibility of competing in Vegas, it's referred to as Cowboy Christmas. 

Cowboys who go all-in this week might compete in Prescott, Arizona at the world's oldest rodeo during Prescott Frontier Days. The dust in the arena might not even have settled from their ride before they are back on the road. Those who travel to my home state of Oregon will find to PRCA sanctioned rodeos just about thirty minutes apart with staggered start times. Cowboy can ride in Molalla then buzz to St. Paul to compete (sometimes with seconds to spare). 

They might be in Greeley, Colorado, or Cody, Wyoming, or Red Lodge, Montana before heading up into Canada for the Calgary Stampede - an event that might equate to some cowboys like Ralphie getting his Red Ryder air rifle on A Christmas Story.

Winnings earned at the Calgary Stampede don't count toward PRCA season standings, but they are rich. A win there could mean thousands of dollars to a cowboy for his ride.

Those who compete push their bodies to the limits, often living on the road for days at a time, grabbing sleep and showers intermittently. They test their skills to the extreme. 

In spite of the injuries, sleep deprivation, endless miles, and no scores, the possibilities of winning and the thrill of competing keep them going.

Read about rodeo cowboys, their adventures in competing, and the women who can't help but fall for them in my Rodeo Romances series!

Start with The Christmas Cowboy. 

After spending her formative years on a farm in eastern Oregon, hopeless romantic Shanna Hatfield turns her rural experiences into sweet historical and contemporary romances filled with sarcasm, humor, and hunky heroes. When this USA Today bestselling author isn’t writing or covertly hiding decadent chocolate from the other occupants of her home, Shanna hangs out with her beloved husband, Captain Cavedweller.

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