Operating continuously since 1955, coronavirus wreaks havoc on historic N.J. rodeo

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Coronavirus

Operating continuously since 1955, coronavirus wreaks havoc on historic N.J. rodeo

Posted May 28, 2020

By Kevin Minnick | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

As the sun begins to set on a warm Saturday night, the parking lot starts to fill with cars from New York and Connecticut, Maryland and Virginia. ... There would be plenty from New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware, too. ... Families from near and far had come to see real cowboys and cowgirls in action.

Held from Memorial Day weekend through the end of September for decades, the Cowtown Rodeo is the place to be for an up-close-and-personal look at bull riding, steer wrestling and much more.

{snip}

Located on Route 40 in Pilesgrove, the Cowtown Rodeo is a fixture in Salem County. It was started in 1929 by Howard "Stoney" Harris Jr. in conjunction with the Salem County Fair and held annually until 1937. World War II caused it to be put on hold until 1955.

This year marks its 66th consecutive season, which was scheduled to kick off May 23. But due to the coronavirus outbreak, the longest-running weekly professional rodeo in the United States is in serious jeopardy. ... Its first three weekends were canceled and the possibility exists for more.

{snip}

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[woodsprite]

1. Our family loves Cowtown Rodeo

We try to go at least 1-2x per season. When I was little, I remember coming in from outside to have dinner and settle in to watch it on TV. Our son was really into cowboys when he was little and I have a picture of him at 5yo in jeans, chaps, vest, boots, and cowboy hat sitting on top of one of their mama Brahmas on July 4th.

I hope it doesn’t fold. It’s always packed, no easy way to social distance there, or at their flea market.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

2. I've never been. I'm not anywhere near it. Still, the article said that

people go there from Virginia. I still think, "wait -- 'The Oldest Weekly Running Rodeo in the USA!' -- New Jersey?"

They have rodeo in Virginia too:

PHOTOS: Rodeo returns to Gordonsville
Jul 9, 2017

A lot of states I would not imagine have high school rodeo associations.

Thanks for writing.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

3. NJ Advance Media is not very advanced. Awful headline. Implies virus has been around since 1955

Should be:

Coronavirus wreaks havoc on historic NJ rodeo operating continuously since 1955

So easy.

[Turbineguy]

5. Throw

the horse over the fence, some hay.

[2naSalit]

4. Cheyenne Frontier Days have been canceled too...

That's a major event in the Rockies and westward.

[eppur_se_muova]

6. Participle by headline editor left dangling ?

Imagine my surprise to read that the coronavirus has been operation since 1955 ...

[mahatmakanejeeves]

7. Hey, I don't write 'em. They must be working at home without an editor.

It is weird.