HomeLocal NewsPhoto Gallery: ‘Biggest little rodeo in Texas’ opens in Los Fresnos
Rider Jacob Lees hangs on as he competes in the saddle bronc riding Friday, Feb. 17, 2023, at the 33rd Annual Los Fresnos Rodeo and Concert in Los Fresnos. (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)
LOS FRESNOS — When there’s a dip in the temperature, a distant sound of hoofbeats across the dirt and the smell of funnel cakes wafting through the air, it’s rodeo time.
Rodeo season is a special part of this time of year in the Valley when the belt buckles get bigger, the cowboy boots more elaborate and we all have strong opinions about which bull rider should have gotten a fairer shake in judging.
In Los Fresnos, the Los Fresnos Rodeo and Concert — dubbed the “biggest little rodeo in Texas” — kicked off Friday for its 33rd year of three days of competitions, performances, amusement rides and best of all those guilty pleasure rodeo food staples like turkey legs and deep-fried everything.
They say that “time at the rodeo is never time wasted,” so here’s to time well-spent.
Competitor Chisum Allen speeds out the gate to rope a calf during the slack competition Friday, Feb. 17, 2023, at the 33rd Annual Los Fresnos Rodeo and Concert in Los Fresnos. (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)San Benito FFA competitor Destiny Esquivel prepares her lamb for showing Friday, Feb. 17, 2023, at the 33rd Annual Los Fresnos Rodeo and Concert in Los Fresnos. (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)A horse is herded through the gate as rodeo staff sort stock to use that evening Friday, Feb. 17, 2023, at the 33rd Annual Los Fresnos Rodeo and Concert in Los Fresnos. (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)Bob Middleton, of teh Los Fresnos Volunteer Fire Department, brings a bowl of corn cobbs to add to a pot of beaufort stew for the rodeo competitor’s dinner Friday, Feb. 17, 2023, at the 33rd Annual Los Fresnos Rodeo and Concert in Los Fresnos. (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)Los Fresnos Lions Club members Manuel Flores, William Jaramillo and Jose Jaramillo man the grill to sell turkey legs and fajitas to rodeo attendees Friday, Feb. 17, 2023, at the 33rd Annual Los Fresnos Rodeo and Concert in Los Fresnos. (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)Cattle are herded through a chute to a separate part of the stock pens by rodeo workers during preperations for the evening Friday, Feb. 17, 2023, at the 33rd Annual Los Fresnos Rodeo and Concert in Los Fresnos. (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)Riders scream as The Orbiter spins Friday, Feb. 17, 2023, at the 33rd Annual Los Fresnos Rodeo and Concert in Los Fresnos. (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)A group of boys play football outside the FFA livestock show arena Friday, Feb. 17, 2023, at the 33rd Annual Los Fresnos Rodeo and Concert in Los Fresnos. (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)A couple kiss as they watch children take a train ride Friday, Feb. 17, 2023, at the 33rd Annual Los Fresnos Rodeo and Concert in Los Fresnos. (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)Competitor Conner Murnion stretches his legs ahead of the start of the bull riding and saddle bronc riding Friday, Feb. 17, 2023, at the 33rd Annual Los Fresnos Rodeo and Concert in Los Fresnos. (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)Ronnie Christian leads a small sermon and prayer for competitors before the rodeo starts Friday, Feb. 17, 2023, at the 33rd Annual Los Fresnos Rodeo and Concert in Los Fresnos. (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)Mutton busters are kitted out with helmets, vests and bandanas before their event Friday, Feb. 17, 2023, at the 33rd Annual Los Fresnos Rodeo and Concert in Los Fresnos. (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)Alie Aguilar tries to hang on as a mechanical bull bucks Friday, Feb. 17, 2023, at the 33rd Annual Los Fresnos Rodeo and Concert in Los Fresnos. (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)A bullrider waits in the chute for the door to open Friday, Feb. 17, 2023, at the 33rd Annual Los Fresnos Rodeo and Concert in Los Fresnos. (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)Rider Jacob Lees hangs on as he competes in the saddle bronc riding Friday, Feb. 17, 2023, at the 33rd Annual Los Fresnos Rodeo and Concert in Los Fresnos. (Denise Cathey/The Brownsville Herald)
