This year's Alpha Psi Rodeo took place on April 11th, and I was one of the thousands of people who attended the highly advertised and anticipated event. As it was my first Rodeo ever, I didn't quite know what to expect when I wiggled into my jorts and pulled on my boots on Saturday morning.
Rodeo was a blast, but I decided that next year I am going to do some things a bit differently. Here are those things.
1. Bring drinks, other than beer, especially water. In the hot sun on a beautiful spring day, it can be very dangerous to drink only alcohol. The sun heightens the effects of alcohol, and both work together to dehydrate the human body. If you aren't drinking water or other refreshing drinks, you definitely won't last until the concert. Also, for those of us who don't drink, it can be frustrating to open a cooler and only see cans of Natty or Bud. So, make sure to throw a couple lemonades or Diet Coke in there before you hit the road for Rodeo.
2. Bring a tailgating tent. The sun, again, can be brutal when there are no clouds, and you're outside all day long. A tent can be a lifesaver when it comes to exhaustion, sunburns and heat. Having a shaded area keeps your spirits up and skin happy. And it makes it easier for your friends to find your tailgate, so you don't have to be walking all over the mile-long pasture to meet up with others.
3. Bring food. There are a few food vendors at Rodeo, but everything is overpriced, and the lines are always long. Make sure you bring food with you so that you can avoid spending too much on mediocre food. Chips, hotdogs, sandwiches and desserts always pair great with cold beer (or lemonade) and friends. So, pack up a grill in the bed of your truck and make sure you have enough to go around.
4. Actually watch the Rodeo. Make sure that you don't get so caught up tailgating that you miss the fun of watching the actual rodeo. After all, you did pay $55 for the event and one of the best parts is watching the bull riding. Rodeos are so fun, and you definitely don't want to miss it.
5. Wear and re-apply sunscreen. It's so easy to get caught up in having fun that you forget how brutal the sun is. Make sure that you protect your skin. Besides, who wants a tank-top or over-all tan line?
6. Plan ahead. It's easy to avoid the pre-Rodeo stress if you make sure that you find a ride early, get all the groceries and drinks you need beforehand and have a game plan once you get there. Planning ahead makes things run so much more smoothly when you are trying to leave the day of.
7. Don't take anything too seriously. Rodeo can be stressful at times, because there is no cell service and losing track of your friends could easily happen. If this does happen, don't freak out or stress because chances are, you will find them again. Since Rodeo is mostly Auburn students, you will likely see people that you know other than the people that you came with. Feel free to stop and talk with others or run around with someone else, because the bottom line is, Rodeo is so much fun if you go with the flow and don't worry about where everyone else is. You'll be able to find your friends again before you leave, so take advantage of everything Rodeo has to offer.
Rodeo is fun no matter what you do, but these small tips will help to make sure you have the best day you possibly could have. I'm super excited for next year's Alpha Psi Rodeo, because if it's anything like this year's, it's going to be amazing. WDR
