Bull rider B.J. Schumacher makes a sudden and unplanned departure from Undertow at the Tucson Rodeo Grounds. Schumacher is from Wisconsin.

Photos by James S. Wood / arizona daily star

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Cooler weather and drizzling rain did not stop fans from catching Friday's roping and riding action at the 83rd annual La Fiesta de los Vaqueros.

Little cowboys and cowgirls donned western wear whether competing in junior events or out for a fun day with their families.

Here are some voices from the day at the Tucson Rodeo Grounds, located at 4823 S. Sixth Ave.

"Mostly it's maybe some sore muscles, maybe some sprains that are more common — similar to some of the injuries you see in football players, as rough a sport that is.

"By far the greatest injuries that get treated here are human — probably, I don't know — 30 or 40 to one."

Dr. Eddie Taylor, official rodeo veterinarian, on the most common injuries he sees in rodeo animals. He has been with the Tucson Rodeo for 21 years. The rest of the year, he works full time in Scottsdale as a mobile equine veterinarian.

"Hold on, and then when I fall off I'm going to go like this" (lifts his cowboy hat with a smile).

Six-year-old Raymond Carrasco on how he planned to mutton bust for the first time Friday. Carrasco is a first-grader at Warren Elementary School, 3505 W. Milton Road.

"It's just a really big rodeo close to home, and it's about three hours down the highway, so it doesn't cost too much to get there."

Bareback rider Tom McFarland, 24, of Wickenburg, on what makes the Tucson Rodeo unique for him.

"We really like watching the rodeo. Then, it gets cooled off, and we have to leave because it makes it rough for the kids."

— Rodeo fan Jim Garcia, 58, of Oracle on whether the weather dampened his rodeo spirit. He drove down for the Tucson Rodeo on Friday with his son and his daughter-in-law, Bodie and Brenda Garcia, and children — Jamie Vigil, 17; Latissia Garcia, 8; and Sabrina Garcia, 5.

"They're really riding well. … The bull riders are really stepping up this year, in my opinion, so they must be healthy.

— Rodeo judge Bill Pacheco of Nipomo, Calif. on the caliber of Tucson Rodeo contestants this year. Pacheco, who is a reserve judge for the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, estimates that he judges about 15 to 20 rodeos a year.