For the past decade, I have photographed the weekly rodeos at Cowtown Rodeo in Pilesgrove, New Jersey—the oldest weekly competitive rodeo in America. What first drew me to Cowtown was its connection to America’s past, but what has kept me returning is the community and tradition that continue to thrive there today. 

Over the years, I have watched the crowds grow larger and new generations of competitors enter the arena, both participating in a tradition that has endured for over a century. My work documents both the intensity of competition and those moments behind the scenes that expose the deeply rooted community that exists beyond the arena. Whether capturing a bull rider’s eight-second ride, a competitor’s fastest time in tie-down roping, or the anticipation before the bucking chute opens, my aim is to preserve those moments that sing of the American dream.

My larger interest in that American dream and nostalgia is so perfectly encapsulated in Cowtown. Rodeo is often associated with the American West, yet here it has found an enduring home in New Jersey. Cowtown challenges expectations, reminding us that the spirit of the American frontier is not confined to geography but carried forward by the people who continue this tradition.

Through this work, my hope is that viewers encounter a part of modern America that still carries a sense of grit, resilience, and independence, reminding us that history is not only something we remember, but something we continue to live.

Copyright 2026