ANNUAL SHINDIG KICKS OFF RODEO WEEK

LINCOLN — A cowboy studies and analyzes a situation then decides what should be done and sets about rectifying the matter in short order.

In essence, this is how the street dance was incorporated as a regular part of the annual Lincoln Rodeo. The Lincoln Rodeo got started 65 years ago, but the street dance wasn’t officially added until 1967 with Louie Guess requesting and receiving approval from the mayor of Lincoln.

Guess became a member of Lincoln Riding Club in 1955 or 1956 and always had a taste for music and enjoying life to the fullest. Summertime temperatures were hot during the day, not an ideal time for hosting a dance.

“Howard Lester came down to Lincoln to play music on the street,” Guess remembers. “We were dancing out in the hot sun. I told myself, ‘it could be better.’ So, I went and talked to the mayor and talked to the mayor about it being a better thing next year to have the dance the night before the rodeo and that sounded like a good thing. So, the year 1967 that was what we did.”

Records are missing from that era and Guess can’t recall her name, but he does remember the mayor, who approved the street dance was a lady. Guess wanted to make the street dance a success and has cooked many a meal in preparation for the event to welcome rodeo fans to Lincoln.

“I have cooked a lot of times at the rodeo grounds,” Guess said. “I would start at 5:30 in the morning and get it all done by 4:30 in the afternoon.”

For the first street dance, Guess cooked 150 pounds of pork, 20 chickens, along with hotdogs and hamburgers. One guy from Siloam Springs showed up to help with the cooking that hot day Guess remembers.

“The people would already be there to eat,” Guess said. “It was great, then I would get home fast to get me a bath and get up to the street dance. That was a great time in my life.”

This year as the Lincoln Rodeo celebrates 65 years, the street dance is now in its 52nd year. Lester is still performing showing rodeo fans a good time with his band the Boston Mountain Playboys.

The Lil’ Mister and Lil’ Miss contests portions of the 2018 Lincoln Riding Club royalty pageant immediately precede the street dance which goes from 8 to 11 p.m. Wednesday on the Lincoln Square. The Lil’ Mister and Lil’ Miss contests begin at 7 p.m.

Guess now 85, clings to his cowboy ways. He is still going strong. Guess does a little guitar picking and hosts jam sessions in his backyard shop known as “Louie’s Guitar Lounge.”

He draws a certain amount of satisfaction over the success of the street dance.

“It has been a good one that where people have fun,” Guess said. “Everyone was happy and so was I.”

PHOTOS BY MARK HUMPHREY ENTERPRISE-LEADER Above: Couples dance during the 2017 Lincoln Riding Club Rodeo street dance on the Lincoln Square, which is always held on Wednesday, prior to the rodeo. This year the street dance starts at 8 p.m. on Aug. 8 with Lincoln Rodeo performances scheduled for Aug. 9-11. Top photo: Vocalist Heather Replogle Keenen (center) conducts a mic check prior to the first set performed by Howard Lester and the Boston Mountain Playboys during the Lincoln Rodeo street dance in this 2017 photo. Band members (from left): Jimmy Fields, guitar/vocals; Tyler Bottje, drums; Keenen; Howard Lester, guitar/vocals; Chris Lynch, bass/vocals; and Stacy Pixley, fiddle. Also on stage (second from right) is Braxton Blankenship, who has joined the band for rodeo street dances including the Lincoln Rodeo and Siloam Springs Rodeo.

This color drawing of acowboy picking his guitar by Louie Guess hangs on the wall in Guess’ backyard shop known as “Louie’s Guitar Lounge,” a gathering spot for musical jam sessions and Guess’ home-cooked food. Guess founded the street dance in the 13th year of the annual Lincoln Rodeo. Now, 85, Guess still maintains an active membership in the Lincoln Riding Club.

Braxton Blankenship (center), 2016 Lincoln Riding Club Lil’ Mister, joined Howard Lester and the Boston Mountain Playboys on stage to provide a soundtrack for the street dance held from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. on the Lincoln Square in 2017. Band members shown with Braxton are Chris Lynch (left) bass/vocals and Stacy Pixley (fiddle). Braxton has played with the band in past years during the Siloam Springs Rodeo street dance and at other street dances.

Louie Guess, 85, of Lincoln, strums his electric guitar. Guess wanted people to have a good time so he founded the street dance in 1967, which has been incorporated into the annual Lincoln Rodeo that began in 1954.