LAWTON — U.S. Rep. Tom Cole is glad to be back in rural Oklahoma and that was never more evident than last Friday when he participated in the opening ceremony of the 85th annual PRCA-sanctioned Lawton Rangers Rodeo.
“It’s always special to be here on Military Night,” Cole said as soldiers from Fort Sill filled the east side of the Lo Ranch Arena. “It’s good to be back in rural America where they practice traditional values, where people get together and celebrate the virtues of America. And rodeo has always been about that.”
Cole joked that the “competition here is about as much as it is in Washington.” Like in the nation’s capital, rodeo is about “getting back up and dusting yourself off.”
The congressman’s favorite rodeo event is the bull riding.
“I admire the courage it takes to do that,” he said. “I couldn’t do that. These people (rodeo competitors and fans) are the kind of people who settled the West.”
Cole made some brief comments to the crowd about the soldiers and their patriotism, and the rodeo. He then handed the microphone to Fort Sill commanders who swore in several new recruits.
With Congress on break, Cole has been traveling to cities and towns in the 4th District, which includes Lawton, Davis, Sulphur and several other municipalities.
Most constituents who have talked to Cole expressed concerns about the level of federal government spending and the national debt. Others have shown an interest in the state of the country.
“They’re not sure if it’s the same nation when they grew up,” he said. “They also want to talk about the presidential election. But like rodeo, you can get thrown” by unexpected questions and comments.
The four-day PRCA rodeo brought 400 of the top cowboys and cowgirls to Lawton. Typically, the rodeo draws 25,000 to 50,000 visitors. The rodeo, which is organized by the Lawton Rangers, is the largest PRCA event in Oklahoma and one of the top 50 in the U.S.
Rodeo entrants competed in bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, barrel racing and bull riding. A complete list of winners can be found at www.prorodeo.com.