OAKDALE, Calif. — If you’re wondering where all the cowboys have gone, look no further than Oakdale, California. Known as the self-proclaimed “Cowboy Capital of the World,” Oakdale is a town that fully embraces its rodeo tradition.
Every year, a sea of cowboy hats floods the Oakdale Rodeo Grounds, a vivid celebration of the town’s enduring Western spirit. Murals, signs and billboards around town all proudly proclaim the title, and locals are quick to explain why Oakdale has earned it.
“Because we have the best cowboys,” said Norman Mendenhall, president of the Oakdale Saddle Club and longtime organizer of the Oakdale Rodeo…