Three days later, June 22, 1874, Daniels was able to witness his first rodeo and wrote: “They take wild colts, throw a rope over their neck and choke them down. Then they put a blind on them. They use a halter called a Hackamore, with a long rope to it. They don’t put on any bridle and the blind is a broad piece of leather with strings to tie it on so they can slip it down over their eyes or up so they can see. After these two things are on, they are let up. Then they slip the blind over their eyes and put the saddle on. The rope is tied so as to make a rein to hold on to. Then they are taken out of the corral and there is three to five men mounted to ride at each side and behind to keep them from running into the fence or any other bad place. One has a big whip, when the rider mounts the blind is raised and the show begins and it is a considerable show. One would think the horse would be tired out before the rider gets on, after all the horses had all ready been run through a round up and all. But they buck, pretty tall, and it takes a good rider to stay on. It jolts a man awful. The men did well today, none got thrown. They make them buck all they can. When they quit that, the fun is over. It is broke and turned out and another caught and the same performance again, with but little variation.”

It was interesting to note Daniels final observations. The reason for his attendance was his brother-in-law, Elisha Parks, was in search of stray livestock. Daniels noted that Parks’ three colts had been separated in the corrals, but never broken. Parks thought they could just drive them home. Daniels, wrote that did not happen, and the scenario was like driving deer, and the animals fled to the mountains.

Finally, Daniels was amazed about the difference in hospitality between Honey Lakers and those in Iowa. He noted the host of event fed everyone for free, and he recokened there were nearly forty men there. In summation, Daniels wrote, “Not many would do that in Iowa.”

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Rodeos, like so many other events have evolved over the years. For instance, in this region, during the late 1800s, they usually occured in late spring to round up livestock that were allowed to graze freely during the winter months.

In May 1874, Sylvester Daniels arrived in the Honey Lake Valley from Iowa, to spend time with his sister, Polly Parks and her family, to see if the change of climate would be beneficial to him.

Daniels kept numerous descriptive journals during his stay. When one journal was finished, he would send it back to his family in Iowa to provide them with insight of what life was like on this new frontier.

On June 18, 1874, Daniels wrote: “Jerry Leaky came here and stayed last night. He is herding stock on the other side of the valley. It seems they have a great time every spring, Rodeoing, they call it. A lot of men having stock out together, camp out, sometimes as many as 150 men. They go around from one to place another and have all the stock gathered together that are in reach. Separate each man’s stock from the rest, get them in the yard (or corral as they call every place that they yard cattle or horses). They mark all of the calves, colts and stock that has changed owners. They have their Buccaroes, men with the Lasso to catch and hold the stock while they operate with hot irons. I should like to go and see the thing done, then I could tell more about it.”

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