充满德克萨斯味道的牛仔节

林大大 Danny 赴美

每年为期3周的休斯敦牲畜展和牛仔节吸引近200万人前来参观，其规模为世界之最。此项活动最能体现德州牛仔文化。节日期间，休斯敦的牛仔服饰商店生意兴隆，全身牛仔打扮的男女老少聚集在Reliant Park看斗牛，听音乐会，吃烤肉。

第一届牛仔节于1931年举办，目前每年牛仔节的义工人数超过2万人，对休斯敦经济的贡献达3.5亿美元，至今已为德州学生累计提供2.35亿美元的奖学金。

在3月19日星期日举办的2017年休斯顿牛仔节学校艺术拍卖会上（School Art Auction），众多慈善人士前来支持艺术和教育事业。第一名（Grand Champion）和第二名（Reserve Grand Champion）的艺术作品都创造了新的展会拍卖纪录，它们的作者都是来自糖城的华裔青少年！

根据牛仔节官网的报道，来自糖城著名的Clements高中的四年级学生、18岁的Andy Wei（魏航，谐音）的一幅描绘老人与狗之间情感的动人作品《Timeless》获得此次拍卖会的冠军，拍出了创纪录的23.5万美元，比去年的冠军作品高出了5万美元！据休斯顿纪事报，Andy本人凭此将赢取至少2.8万美元。

拍卖会上的冠军作品《Timeless》，创下了23.5万美元成交纪录。

同样来自Fort Bend独立学区Clements高中的四年级学生、18岁的Anton Zhou的作品《Southern Palate》以22.1万美元打破了展会的该项纪录，比去年多了1000美元！据休斯顿纪事报，Zhou从拍卖中至少能赢取1.4万美元。

3月19日星期日是学校春假的最后一天，天气棒棒的！

牛仔节通常只有三月份才有，这里小孩正好放一个星期的春假。十分适合全家老小出行。

体育馆里今天七万多张演唱会门票竟然全卖光了！

牛仔节上竟然还有个月子中心！Birthing Center!

很多小朋友对动物宝宝很感兴趣。

当天的新生牛！

刚刚出生二天的新生牛！

刚刚出生十天的新生牛，自己已经会站了！这才叫牛！

猪妈妈一次搞定！

上海飞来的白牛郎！

上海飞来的多彩牛郎！

赶猪的小女孩

德州特产：长角牛

牛仔节上，左边一个新美爸还正在了解牛奶的好处，右边一个老德州人已经实实在在地得到了牛奶的好处！

晚餐也是相当不错，而且有特色。

我们的天空：无价！

以下三十五张是牛仔节上的竞技比赛项目，转自网络。

儿童竞技项目：骑羊比赛 Mutton Busting

牛仔竞技项目：骑烈马 Bronc Riding

Saddle bronc riding is rodeo's classic event since it derived from the practice of "breaking" or training saddle horses in the Old West. The contestant sits in a standard saddle attached to the back of the horse - but with no saddle horn. For leverage, he holds a thick "rein" or rope that is attached to the horse’s halter, which can only be held with one hand. When the gate swings open, the cowboy must adhere to the "mark-out" rule in which he must have his heels touching the animal above the point of the horse's shoulders when it makes its first jump. Otherwise, the cowboy will be disqualified and given a "no score." Synchronization with the horse’s movements earns higher scores. When the horse’s front feet are on the ground, the rider’s heels must be in front of the horse’s shoulders, toes turned out. As the horse resets for its next move, the cowboy brings his heels to the back of the saddle, all the while anticipating the animal’s next jump. If the contestant touches any part of the horse or himself with his free hand during the 8-second ride, he will be disqualified. A high-scoring ride is in the 80s or 90s out of a possible 100 points.

牛仔竞技项目：骑牛 Bull Riding

One 2,000 pound animal paired against one 150 pound man ensures an adrenaline rush for those brave enough to climb in the chutes. To stay on, the rider grasps a flat braided rope or "bull rope" which is wrapped around the bull’s chest just behind its front legs. One end of the bull rope, called the "tail", is threaded through the loop on the other end and fastened around the animal. The rider then wraps the tail around his hand holding the rope, sometimes weaving it through his fingers to further secure his grip. When the chute gate opens riders must stay on for eight seconds, while a twisting, bucking mass of muscle tries anything to buck them off. If the contestant makes contact with the animal or themselves with their free hand, they receive no score. Points are based on rider's ability to stay on, as well as the bull’s bucking action. Extra points are awarded to those who are controlled enough to spur their bull with one or both of their dulled spurs. A high-scoring ride is in the high 80s or 90s out of a possible 100.

牛仔竞技项目：摔牛 Steer Wrestling

Sometimes referred to as "bulldogging," steer wrestling is an all-out battle of strength. The cowboy starts out on horseback in a three-sided fenced area known as "the box." A rope, known as the "barrier," is attached to the steer and serves as a head start for the animal. Once the cowboy nods to indicate his readiness, the gate is opened and the steer exits the chute. When the steer reaches the end of the rope, the barrier is released and the cowboy takes off in pursuit. If the cowboy leaves before the steer, a 10-second penalty is added to his final time and referred to as a "broken barrier". If the cowboy reaches the steer, he dismounts using strength and leverage, slows the animal by digging his heels into the dirt and maneuvers the steer to the ground. In order to catch the sprinting steer, the bulldogger relies on a "hazer", which is another mounted cowboy running beside the steer. Time stops when the steer is on its side with all four feet pointing in the same direction.

牛仔竞技项目：套牛犊 TIE-DOWN ROPING

Like many rodeo events, tie-down roping can be traced back to the working ranches of the Old West. The roper begins his run from "roping box," with a barrier rope across the open front. The box is adjacent to a chute, containing the calf. One end of the breakaway barrier is looped around the calf and released as soon as the calf reaches its advantage point. If the roper beats the calf out of the chute, a 10-second penalty is added to his final time and considered a "broken barrier." Once the calf is caught by the cowboy’s loop, the horse is trained to come to a stop and pull back to remove any "slack" or extra rope to keep the calf still. The cowboy quickly dismounts and sprints down his rope to the calf and turns the calf by hand, referred to as "flanking". If the calf is not standing when the cowboy reaches it, he must allow the calf to stand before he proceeds to flank it. Once flanked, the roper ties any three of the animal’s legs together with a "pigging string" - a short looped rope. To signal that his run is complete, the contestant throws his hands in the air. He then remounts his horse and must wait six seconds to ensure that the calf does not kick free. If the calf does not remain tied, the roper receives no time. At San Antonio, a fast run in is less than 7 seconds.

TEAM ROPING

This is the only true team event in rodeo - one "header" who ropes the head of the steer and one "heeler" who ropes the heels, or feet, of the steer. Each contestant begins in their respective "roping box" - a three-sided fenced area with a chute containing the steer in the middle. Similar to Steer Wrestling, a breakaway rope or "barrier" is attached to the steer  and released once the steer reaches its advantage point The "broken barrier" rule also applies with a 10-second penalty added to the team's time. Once the steer is out, the header leaves the roping box in pursuit of the steer, roping it around the horns, neck, or a horn-neck combination. He then turns the steer quickly to the left so the heeler has a shot at both of its hind legs. The clock stops when their horses are facing each other and their ropes are pulled tightly. If the heeler catches only one leg, a five-second penalty is added. A fast time in the Team Roping is less than 4 seconds.

牛仔竞技项目：绕桶赛马 Barrel Racing

Arranged in a triangle, barrel racers must run around all three barrels in a pattern known as a "cloverleaf" being careful not to turn one over. Riders may begin on the left or the right barrel first, but the pattern cannot be broken. Horses must be not only swift, but accurate in their ability to maneuver around the barrels with ease and agility. If the rider or the horse makes contact with a barrel, it can be touched in order to keep it from falling. If not, each fallen barrel adds a penalty of five-seconds to the rider’s final time. The sport is timed to the hundredth of a second. An "electric eye," or automatic stopwatch serves as the timer on the arena floor and starts and stops once the horse and rider run in front of it. A fast run is less than 14 seconds.

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