photos by David Halterman

Last weekend marked the 72nd annual Durango Fiesta Days celebration. This years events included the fund-raising pie auction, a Main Avenue street dance and the Fiesta Days Parade (including the telltale road apples up and down Fifth Street.) But without a doubt, the celebrations main event and crowdpleaser is always the ride 'em and rope 'em rodeos held at the La Plata County Fairgrounds. Boots, buckles and brims reigned supreme as anything with four legs was fair game for competition. From the graceful precision of barrel racing to the white-knuckled grit of bull riding, this years Fiesta Days had more action than you could shake an electric cattle prod at.

Local legend Tom McCarthy prepares to eat some dirt during the saddle bronc competition on Sunday. A horse waits patiently for his turn in the saddle bronc, while two cowboys prep for the ride. Old horsepower meets new horsepower in the parking lot of this years Fiesta Days Rodeo. What one man may call unwise, another may call a thrill. Either way, bull riding can definitely be painful. Joaquin Tucson learning to fly with a little help from his friends. A tired pair of boots rests by the gates after a weekend full of rodeo.