Waconia, MN - Rodeo and Waterskiing
We headed out to Waconia, Minnesota to shoot with Extreme Events MN for their PRCA rodeo at the Carver County Fairgrounds, three performances across the weekend: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
We rolled into town Friday afternoon, checked in, and got our gear together for the evening perf. We’ve worked with the Slather family before (they put this event on), so it already felt familiar walking into the fairgrounds.
Before the rodeo kicked off, we caught up with a few Minnesota rodeo photographers we hadn’t seen in about a year. Always good to reconnect with friends who do what we do and share the same passion.
Friday night’s perf ran smooth, just how you want to start a weekend. Afterward, we stayed back with some friends on the grounds, grabbed a couple hot dogs, and talked rodeo late into the night.
We started Saturday off with a stop at Mocha Monkey, a local coffee shop. From there, we headed to Lake Waconia for something totally different: Miss Rodeo Minnesota pulling a waterskier on horseback. And it was just as wild and fun to shoot as it sounds.
Not long after, we made our way downtown where Extreme Events brought a group of horseback riders to help lead off a 5K and 10K race hosted by Waconia Brewing Company. Definitely one of the more unique rodeo weekends we’ve been part of.
Back at the hotel, we got to work uploading photos from Friday night and organizing everything from the morning.
The crowd on Saturday night packed the arena. It was a sold-out performance, and the competition was just as strong. Dakota Rodeo Co. brought in top-tier stock, and the energy stayed high from start to finish.
Between the great light, the crowd’s energy, and a strong lineup of contestants, it was one of those nights where the photos basically made themselves.
Sunday’s performance had a 1:00 p.m. start, which meant great lighting and plenty of time to shoot without racing against the sunset.
More solid competition and another great crowd made it a strong finish to the weekend. As soon as the action wrapped, we packed up and hit the road back home — Jadrian culled Sunday’s images on the way, because no time gets wasted when you're chasing the rodeo trail
This weekend had everything: rodeo, lake life, coffee shops, sold-out performances, and more great people than we can count. Every rodeo has its own rhythm, and Waconia’s was all heart.
Already looking forward to the next one with Extreme Events MN.
