Fair Topics (field trips)
Question for everyone. A lot of western culture and Texas culture is on display at the fair. Did you observe it as an insider or an outsider?
- Rodeo (below)
- Other animal events
- pig racing
- sheep dog herding
- equestrian
- Judging of livestock
- Animal farming practices
- the birthing barn
- cow milking
- sheep shearing
- etc.
- Exotic animal petting zoo
- kangaroos
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RODEO
Bernard Rollin, "Rodeo and Recollection"
- Rollin--ethicist at Colorado State University, teaches future veterinarians, ranchers, cowboys
- Western ranch culture, rodeo as symbol of the west, critics seen as outsiders
- His admiration for ranchers, because they genuinely take care of animals
- How to talk ethics with cowboys? Respect, recollection (get people to realize what they already know)
- Minimal principle rodeo folks agreed on: should not harm animals for trivial reasons
- Particular rodeo events he objects to--tie down roping, should replace with break away roping; horse tripping; events that make use of animal fear
Rodeo videos
- Rodeo events (bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding)
- the flank strap
- Tie down roping
- Break away roping
- horse tripping (outlawed in Texas and about 9 other states)