Joseph Gonzalez, a cowboy wandering around the Outlaw Oasis, a merchandise area at the rodeo, was hopeful that exposure to a new crowd would be a good thing.
“Not necessarily a crisis, but the rodeo culture is kind of dying,” he said. “This rodeo is a good way to get people here — young kids, families — you don’t have to own a horse, you don’t even have to live the life, as long as you like horses, cowboys and rodeo. I mean, social media, the internet, it’s a good way for people to learn about rodeo culture.”