On July 2, 2018, I had the privilege of bearing witness to an unforgettable moment in rodeo history. I aid the rodeo marketing efforts so I had back of house access. After a Monday evening’s exhilarating rodeo event, we all congregated at the campsite to unwind with a beverage. Joining us were two living legends of the Prescott rodeo: JC Trujillo, a Bronc Riding Hall of Famer, and Arleigh Bonnaha, a glorified Prescott rodeo clown from the 1980s.Around a crackling campfire, something extraordinary unfolded. These two rodeo legends spontaneously engaged in what can only be described as lyrical art, an ode to the rodeo life known as cowboy poetry. It was a performance akin to a rap battle, the likes of which I had never expected to see from these seasoned cowboys. As the verses flowed, I couldn’t help but pull out my phone to capture the moment.
Amidst the poetic fervor, JC Trujillo paused, catching my eye. With a sly smile, he uttered something profound: “This is not meant for the world to see. This is a moment for us, not for social media.” He winked and resumed his lyrical masterpiece.
In the weeks that followed, I couldn’t shake the significance of that experience. The realization settled in that the convergence of these two historic figures from the Prescott Frontier Days – World’s Oldest Rodeo was a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence. Their hidden talents, shared between two old friends will be in a moment in my history with the rodeo forever.
– Donna Werking
