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Rupununi Ranchers Rodeo celebrates cowboy tradition in Guyana
Thousands of visitors from Guyana and neighboring countries flock to Lethem town in the Rupununi Region for the annual Rupununi Ranchers Rodeo. The two-day event celebrates the cowboy lifestyle on Guyana’s rugged Rupununi savannah amid blaring country music and dust kicked up by the horses’ hooves.
Competitions
The rodeo features competitions such as bareback bronco riding, saddle bronco, steer roping, ribbon roping, and wild cow milking. Local cowboys make up most of the participants, but the event has also attracted cowboys from Britain, the United States, and Brazil.
Growing Tourism Attraction
Apart from being a local tradition, the rodeo is also a growing tourist attraction. Visitors come to see the cowboys in action and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Rupununi savannah.
Honoring the Legacy
Rancher Ian Rodriguez is carrying on the legacy of his father, who was the chief judge of the rodeo before he passed away. Rodriguez owns the land where the rodeo is held and serves as a secondary judge. He takes pride in continuing his family’s tradition and promoting the ranching industry in the Rupununi.
Government and private sponsorship
The Rupununi Ranchers Rodeo is organized by The Rodeo Committee, which is part of the Rupununi Livestock Producer’s Association. The event depends on government and private sponsorship to continue promoting the cowboy culture and supporting the ranching industry.
Special Guests
One of the special guests at this year’s rodeo was Guyana’s President Mohamed Irfaan Ali, who toured the event wearing a cowboy hat.
Thrilling experience
For first-time attendees like business teacher Shinier Smartt, the rodeo was a thrilling experience. “The scenery has just been very much beautiful,” she said. “We are here for the famous rodeo and so far it has been very thrilling.”
