Angola Prison (Rodeo) Bound

Guts Poker

Each spring and fall, Angola Prison in Louisiana hosts one of the most unique events in America: The Angola Prison Rodeo (APR).

To date, I've been four or five times and I've enjoyed them every one.

If you're thinking that you don't much care for rodeos, don't stop reading because the APR isn't a regular rodeo and it's not just about the rodeo; there's much, much more.

For starters, the rodeo has events that sane people wouldn't even begin to try.  Pictured above is an event called Guts Poker.  In this event, four inmates are seated around a card table.  Sounds simple enough, until you learn that a bull is released into the arena.  The bull is then goaded into attacking the participants by the rodeo clowns.  It's a game of attrition... the last one seated is declared the winner.  The event is aptly named; all it takes to win is guts.

The other part of rodeo day is the hobbycraft area.  Over the course of the year, inmates built a wide variety of handmade items.  Leathercraft, woodwork, sculptures, paintings, etc. are all for sale.  In the past, I've bought a handmade guitar, several rocking chairs, and various other small items.  All of high quality and terrific craftsmanship.

I can't emphasize this enough:

 

GO TO THE RODEO AT LEAST ONCE IN YOUR LIFE.

 

You won't be sorry.

Our plan is to hit the road this Friday (April 21, 2017) and attend the rodeo on Saturday.

If you know anything about how our adventures go, there will surely be some sort of catastrophe along the way.  It's just how we do it!

Stay tuned for the adventure.

TheCurmudgeon