Cowgirls at Yass Rodeo, 2011

Cowboys may ride the treacherous bulls and broncs, but cowgirls have the more vibrant and fun events at a rodeo — there's nothing quite like barrel racing, for instance ... and no event gets the sods of dirt flying more!

Yass has two rodeos a year — one is part of the local show and the other is affiliated with the Australian Bushman's Campdraft and Rodeo Association. The mix of western culture and side-show alley is bizarre at the first ... kids scream and lights flash on the rides only about 50 metres from where competitors twirl lariats and stetsons are de rigueur.