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There Comes a Horseman - The National Finals Rodeo Take Over Las Vegas

Everywhere that you look cowboys (and girls) have taken over Las Vegas.  This week, you’re not fully dressed to hit the town without a cowboy hat, tight jeans, an oversized belt buckle, and rattlesnake boots.  The National Finals Rodeo is in town again!

The 10 day event features bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, barrel racing, and bull riding.  For rodeo fans, NFR is equated to the Super Bowl, making it a huge draw each year.

The National Finals Rodeo may take place at Thomas & Mack, but the entire town goes country for the week.  Everyone has gotten into the spirit, turning Studio 54 Nightclub into Saloon 54 and constructing makeshift country bars where you can ride mechanical bulls and practice roping in what usually serves as poker areas of casinos.

Cowboy Christmas Gift Show 2011 is being held concurrently at the Las Vegas Convention Center, a 300,000 square foot showroom featuring over 400 vendors.  Among the products offered are: boots, western wear, furniture, custom jewelry, Wrangler products, and handmade crafts.

The American Country Music Awards are held the weekend before at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, bringing many favorite country western stars into town.  Among many others, Leann Rimes performed a benefit concert at Santa Fe Station, Trace Adkins will be performing at the Riviera, Country Music Hall of Famer Merle Haggard will be performing at the Golden Nugget, the legendary fiddle player Charlie Daniels and his band will be performing at the Orleans, Gretchen Wilson will be performing at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, comic and television star Bill Engvall will have crowds laughing at Treasure Island while his fellow Blue Collar Comedy Tour member, Ron White, will have people rolling in the floor at the Mirage, and the soulful Gary Allan will be performing at the House of Blues located inside of Mandalay Bay.

With all of the entertainment and events that surround the NFR, one cannot forget the competition that is involved in the rodeo itself.  Kassey Feild has a narrow lead in trying to capture his first world bareback championship over a cowboy from my hometown of Canyon, Texas, Will Lowe. Luke Branquinho is trying to fight off Trevor Knowles and Jason Miller to win the steer wrestling championship; Tuf Cooper and Cody Ohl are in a heated battle for the tie down roping title. J.W. Harris of Mullin, Texas is striving to win his fourth consecutive gold buckle in the dangerous bull riding event.  The ladies also have a close competition with Brittany Pozzi and Carlee Pierce in a neck and neck race for who will be the world’s best barrel racer.