At each of the three nights of the Superior Lions Club Rodeo teams of three signed liability waivers in order to try to milk a wild cow in front of a charged rodeo audience – and maybe win some money in the process, if the cow cooperated.

On each of these nights, as the time drew near for the wild cow milking to begin, the teams huddled in the loading area of the Superior rodeo grounds and pumped each other up about the challenge that lay ahead.

In the midst of the crowded rodeo stands the energy level rose and rose as the hour grew closer to the wild cow milking – it was what everybody seemed to be waiting for, where the real action was.

According to many of the competitors, this year’s crop of wild cows was far more vicious, far less willing to be milked than in the prior year.

On Friday night, all of the teams gathered in front of the pens of their respective cows – awaiting the release. The crowd roared and roared and then in a flash of action and a furious collision of man and bovine ensued.

The cows seemed to be winning. They seemed to be bowling – using the contestants as their pins.

But the contestants could and would not be swayed in the face of the wild cows. Every time the cows knocked down a contestant they would get back up and continue the fight.

Teams that got lucky were able to quickly secure the cow and begin milking. Sometimes the cow would not produce milk at all, but for the luckiest the milk came and the elated contestants would race towards the judge. Once in front of the judge they poured the fruits of the labor and were cheered on by the crowd.