NORTH WASHINGTON — The cowboys are happy in North Washington, says Pat Tooley. North Washington's annual rodeo is here.

For longtime rodeo cowboys like Tooley, who has been traveling across the country for 25 years and traveling to Butler County for the past dozen, that means the simple pleasures in life: Electricity and running water, for one. Good friends and food for a second and third.

That's what Butler County's annual rodeo is known for: Treating cowboys right.

“It's got a great reputation,” Tooley said. “They treat us cowboys with great respect.”

The rodeo, which started Tuesday, runs through Saturday night. It is a fundraising event for the North Washington Volunteer Fire Department.

Jerry Wayne Olson, a horse trainer and specialty act who has been performing in rodeos for more than 50 years, is on a farewell tour with his horse and performance partner, Justin Boots. The Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame cowboy says he's not sure if he'll hang it up along with his horse once the 2015 season is over.

Whenever he does bid the circuit farewell, though, Olson said he'll miss places like North Washington the most.

“What's kept me going is that drive; the rush you feel to get (the horse) to do what they're supposed to do when they're supposed to do it,” Olson said. “And not only that; to make them enjoy doing it too.”

Alongside Olson are the riders, ropers and racers. They are the athletes who make rodeo pulse-pounding and riveting for fans. North Washington's got plenty of those riders — and from all across the country.

Rodeo President Dave Hazlet points to Saturday's lineup as evidence of the attraction that North Washington has. Garrett Tribble, a 19-year-old Oklahoma phenomenon who is leading the National Rodeo Association's professional bull riding circuit by a wide margin, will compete there.

“He could probably not ride again this year and still win a world championship,” Hazlet said. “He's a bull riding machine.”

But there is a sense among some that there are fewer phenoms like Tribble. Events like North Washington's rodeo — which manage to bridge the gap between a huge event and a small one — are actually getting more important if rodeos want to attract young talent.

“It's like anything else,” said Sam Swearingen, who raises and manages rodeo stock. “It's (interest in the sports) kind of gone downhill because of the work ethic you need to succeed.”

For long-timers like Tooley, Olson and Swearingen, North Washington's rodeo is an old friend, maybe even a tradition.

Swearingen has been managing the North Washington rodeo's stock of bulls, bucking horses and calves for about 30 years. He's got a world championship bronco-riding title to his name, a farm in New York state and a teenage son, Daylon, who's been named the National High School Rodeo Association's rookie of the year.

At 16, Daylon — who rode in North Washington on Wednesday night — became the first competitor from New York to post top 20 finishes in both bull riding and bareback riding.

Swearingen just smiles when asked if he thinks Daylon wants to one-up him.

“He knew before he got on (a bull) that he wanted to do this,” Swearingen said.

That's what many who are involved in the rodeo say about their passion for the sport. North Washington is another opportunity to live the dream.

“It's just something I've always wanted to do, and be the best at,” said Kyle Carson, a 22-year-old Evans City resident and bull rider. “It's something I eat, sleep and breathe every day.”

Carson doesn't always rodeo, he often does bullriding-specific events and is trying to work his way up to a spot on the professional tour, where the crowds are bigger and the events are televised.

For Carson, North Washington is another stop on the road back to where he was before breaking his leg in March and having to sit out much of the season. He went into Wednesday night's ride blind — meaning he hadn't had a chance to study up on the bull he would be facing. That's not how Carson does things all the time, but he said sometimes it's good not to have a chance to over think things.

“Sometimes it's just better to ride a bull jump to jump,” Carson said.

Another Pennsylvania rider competing Wednesday was Lindsay Fink, 21, of Titusville. Fink and her 12-year-old Pinto, Sapphire, were barrel racing — something Fink has been competing in since she was 5 years old. She decided she wanted to pursue the event more seriously after falling in love with the rush of adrenaline and close connection she shares with her mount.

“It's really just the thrill of it,” she said. “Going fast, turning sharp. It just gets your heart beating fast.”