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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 2018)
Getting the dirt just right for rodeo is an art W eeks before the gates open for cowboys, cowgirls, bucking broncos and raging bulls to tear up the rodeo grounds, special care is put into making sure one fine — if unexpected — detail is curated just right: the dirt they compete on. There’s an art to maintaining the soil within the arena, and the artist behind it all is Sid Britt. Last year, Britt was running his ranch alongside his son, Marty, and his grandson, Dalton, holding horse races on his property when the Farm-City Pro Rodeo contacted him in the hopes of hiring him to maintain their grounds. “They heard how good my grounds were from the racers we hosted,” Britt said. “They wanted that same quality for their own.” It marked Britt’s first year working for Farm-City, and it was also the year that the rodeo won the Justin Boots-presented award for Best Ground, voted on Staff photo by Brett Kane Sid Britt drives a tractor in the Farm-City Rodeo Arena Tuesday, July 17 in preparation for the rodeo in August. by barrel racers. But what makes the dirt that Britt works so special? As it turns out, there’s an en- tire routine dedicated to mak- ing sure the dirt that is used in the competitions is just right. You can find Britt on the rodeo grounds tending to the soil in his tractor for at least three hours a day on the eve of an event. “10,000 gallons of water are spread across the soil, and then it’s my job to go out on my trac- tor, rip it up, and pack it back down,” Britt said. If the soil is too soft, horses can slip and cripple, and if it’s too firm, anyone who is bucked off can risk serious injury. The goal is to find a happy medium. Thanks to Britt’s years of ranching and racing experience, he has the expertise to know when the dirt is ready to go. “I’ll do one ride around the entire arena,” Britt said. The first lap tears and loosens all of the dirt up. “Then, I’ll do at least two or three more go-arounds to pack it back down,” he continued. This ensures that ground isn’t too firm, but holds just tight enough for easy traction for the compet- ing livestock. Britt hopes to be back for a third year to create the best rodeo experience possible, from the ground up. Eastern Oregon Heating & Air Conditioning, LLC Enjoy the Fair & Rodeo! “The Comfortable Choice” Air Conditioning • Refrigeration • Gas Furnaces • Geo Thermo Heat Pumps • Ice Machines • Gas Fireplaces • Gas Hot Water Heaters • Sheetmetal Inspections & More! Quality Work at a Competitive Price! CCB #189229 541-567-3095 Member 82000 Hwy 395 N., Hermiston East Oregonian/Hermiston Herald | 9
