Cowboy U

Contests

The show has several weeks of contests (called "boot camp") to determine who will go to the final rodeo, and who will be going home. Recurring competitions throughout the series include the seven rings of fire, calf scrambling, cow dodging, firearm competitions, steer wrestling, driving a horse and wagon, buckboard wagon shooting, pig chasing, barrel racing, wild cow riding, bull riding, and various eating contests that (most recently) have included Rocky Mountain Oysters.

Rewards

At the campfire, Rocco announces who has worked the hardest over the past few days and announces the reward. The winner gets a special reward, like a warm bubble bath, instead of the daily cold showers.

Penalties

Once during each season, Rocco will show up at the bunkhouse and ask the contestants to decide who has done the least over the past few days. After they decide, the unlucky person has to do a special chore, like shoveling out horse barns.

Eliminations

Every few days at the campfire, someone who is just not getting the job done is eliminated. They say goodbye to the other contestants, get their stuff loaded on the back of a truck, and they leave the ranch. Only four of the contestants not eliminated get to participate in the rodeo and have a chance at winning all-around cowboy and walk away with a check for $25,000.

Trail Ride

After boot camp, the city slickers go out on the trail for a two-day ride to gather cattle and bring them back to the ranch. Everyone works hard to escape the final elimination and make it to the next day's rodeo.

Rodeo day

Rodeo day is finally here, and the city slickers will put all they've learned at Cowboy U to the test. They will compete in barrel racing, steer wrestling, wagon racing and shooting and bull riding. One person will be named the all-around cowboy and walk away with a check for $25,000.

Cowboy U: 2003

Cowboy U: 2003
Location: Arizona
Premiered: August 29, 2003
Season Number: One

Cowboy U: 2004

Cowboy U: 2004
Location: California
Season Number: Two

Cowboy U: Moloka'i (2004)

Cowboy U: Moloka'i
Premiered: November 19, 2004
Season Number: Three

Season 3 Contestants

There were ten contestants competing in Cowboy U Season 3. The ten contestants were composed of five couples teams.

Cowboy U: Texas (2005)

Cowboy U: Texas
Premiered: July 1, 2005
Season Number: Four

Cowboy U: Oklahoma (2006)

Cowboy U: Oklahoma
Premiered: January 6, 2006
Season Number: Five

Cowboy U: Colorado (2007)

Cowboy U: Colorado
Premiered: January 12, 2007
Season Number: Six

Criticism

Cowboy U has received some criticism, mainly for being, to some, sexist. Critics said that the women are portrayed as "materialistic and prissy". The critics also said that the women are depicted differently in the competition than the men are, along with focusing on animal rights issues, and the fact that there aren't many female ranch hands on the show.