Columbus, Ohio – Columbus may be known for its Midwestern hospitality, Southern charm and European architecture, but on Monday night at the Bartholomew County 4-H Fairgrounds, it was all about the Wild West.
About 2,500 people packed the grandstands, and another 500 or so filled infield bleachers and stood along the fence and in the infield at Tony Stewart Speedway, which had for one night, been transformed into a rodeo arena. Roughly 200 competitors from nine states competed in eight events for a $20,000 purse in the first rodeo to take place at the local fair in around two decades.
