Hello and thank you for stopping by my little corner of Wyoming. For a long time, I’ve been told to follow my passion. I find that advice both sage and mysterious. We aren’t always sure of our passions, but one thing I know that I love is the place where I live. It’s amazing, but far from perfect.
So, in an effort to share my passion with the world, i’m going to start by telling you about one of our community’s longest standing and happiest tradtions: PARADES!
Laramie Jubilee Days is a Wyoming statehood celebration. It involves lots of things; a PRCA rodeo (which we’re quite proud of), down -home downtown street dances under the stars, and a very well attended parade. We love every minute of it.
Everyone comes. Everyone is friendly. And everyone goes home with enough candy to last until Halloween.
Next up, the parade for the University of Wyoming Homecoming weekend celebration. It’s also a big deal, to all of us in WY. UW is our only 4 year degree granting institution. In a state of 500,000 people, we’re pretty tight knit. Our homecoming really is a day where everyone comes home to our alma mater. We couldn’t be prouder of our University. The World Needs More Cowboys!
Admittedly, it’s not always easy to be a WY football fan (previous 3 years excluded), but the Western Thunder Marching Band never disappoints. They’re awesome. I wish I had some audio.
Our pint sized mascot is also pretty cool. The Farthing family of Laramie County has donated one of their Shetland ponies to serve as Cowboy Joe. Several generations of paint ponies have ran the end zones at every touch down and walked thru countless parades. In college, I was a Cowboy Joe Pony Handler. This meant I was part of the group that chaperoned the pony to his various appearances. It’s another old UW custom that I’m so glad persists.
And one final statement of fact: it doesn’t matter what they say in Stillwater, Pistol Pete is ours. Let ‘er buck.
And this little Pokes fan is all mine.
