Back during World War II, an Oklahoman came to the Jamestown area to work in a defense plant. He lamented there was no rodeo, even in wartime. Members of the Gerry Fire Department saw that as a community event and a way to raise money for the department — and today it still is.
The bulls and horses and riders have assembled in the small Chautauqua County town this week, despite a pandemic that's canceled many other public events. This year's funds go for a new $250,000 ambulance.
At the heart of the show is entertainer, clown and rodeo philosopher Keith Isley.
It's the kind of community involvement that if you look closely, the guy getting the french fries ready to go with thousands of pounds of roasting beef is Town Supervisor Rick Heath. Everyone in town works on the event, along with booths from the National Guard to NEIGH, a group that uses horses for therapy for former military and first responders.
There are also the competitors. Cord Spradley was in from one traffic light Hoboken, GA.
"My Dad, Mom used to rodeo and that's how I got started and been doing this since I was a little kid. I've been going to rodeos since I was 18," Spradley said.
Sandra Pomykai was there for the girls barrel race.
"There's three barrels set up in the arena and we have to do a cloverleaf pattern, either a right and two lefts or a left and two rights and it's a timed event. So the fastest time wins," Pomykai said.
While rodeo is associated with the West, Pomykai is from Central New Jersey. Organizers said entrants are from 35 states.
This year, the top three in each event become entrants in the world championship rodeo in Arlington, TX. Media Coordinator Paul Cooley said that's bringing some former champions to Gerry.
"They're the only true athletes in the world, because they pay their own travel, food, lodging. Then they have to pay anywhere from $90 to $300 per man to enter. What other sport do you have to pay to enter and then if you don't win anything you go home empty? Go home with money lost," Cooley said.
The Gerry Rodeo is the oldest continuous rodeo east of the Mississippi River, has shows at 8 p.m. and continues through Saturday.
