In Pictures: Earning buckles the hard way.
The Calgary Stampede kicked off this past Friday and Reuters photographer Todd Korol captured some of the belt buckles worn by cowboys and cowgirls. They are always one of a kind and the only way to obtain one is to win it. Buckles are hand engraved and made for each rodeo event.
The belt buckle of barrel racer Kaley Bass of Kissimmee, Florida at the Calgary Stampede rodeo in Calgary. Belt buckles worn by cowboys are always one of a kind and the only way to obtain one is to win it.TODD KOROL/Reuters
The belt buckle of Calgary Stampede Queen Danica Heath at the Calgary Stampede rodeo in Calgary. Belt buckles worn by cowboys are always one of a kind and the only way to obtain one is to win it.TODD KOROL/Reuters
Brittany Pozzi of Victoria, Texas, rides her horse to first place finish in the barrel racing event during day 3 of the Calgary Stampede rodeo in Calgary, Alberta, July 6, 2014.TODD KOROL/Reuters
The belt buckle of Calgary Stampede ranch girl Cayley Martyn of Sundre, Alberta at the Calgary Stampede rodeo in Calgary. Belt buckles worn by cowboys are always one of a kind and the only way to obtain one is to win it.TODD KOROL/Reuters
The belt buckle of bareback rider Will Lowe of Canyon, Texas at the Calgary Stampede rodeo in Calgary. Lowe has worn this buckle on every ride since he has won it in 1992. Belt buckles worn by cowboys are always one of a kind and the only way to obtain one is to win it.TODD KOROL/Reuters
Clint Laye of Cadogan, Alberta, rides the horse Wildcat in the bareback event during day 3 of the Calgary Stampede rodeo in Calgary, Alberta, July 6, 2014.TODD KOROL/Reuters
The belt buckle of steer rider Miles Goodman at the Calgary Stampede rodeo in Calgary. Belt buckles worn by cowboys are always one of a kind and the only way to obtain one is to win it.TODD KOROL/Reuters
The World Champion belt buckle of steer wrestler Lee Graves of Calgary, Alberta at the Calgary Stampede rodeo in Calgary. Belt buckles worn by cowboys are always one of a kind and the only way to obtain one is to win it.TODD KOROL/Reuters
The belt buckle of American quarter horse competitor Kate Bamford at the Calgary Stampede rodeo in Calgary. Belt buckles worn by cowboys are always one of a kind and the only way to obtain one is to win it.TODD KOROL/Reuters
Matt Lait of Cayley, Alberta, rides the horse Twin Cherry in the bareback event during day 3 of the Calgary Stampede rodeo in Calgary, Alberta, July 6, 2014.TODD KOROL/Reuters
The belt buckle of tie-down roper Curtis Cassidy of Del Bonita, Alberta at the Calgary Stampede rodeo in Calgary. Belt buckles worn by cowboys are always one of a kind and the only way to obtain one is to win it.TODD KOROL/Reuters
The belt buckle of bull rider Scott Schiffner of Strathmore, Alberta at the Calgary Stampede rodeo in Calgary. Belt buckles worn by cowboys are always one of a kind and the only way to obtain one is to win it.TODD KOROL/Reuters
Jake Wright of Milford, Utah, gets his boot caught in a stirrup on the horse Crazy Day Job in the saddle bronc event during day 3 of the Calgary Stampede rodeo in Calgary, Alberta, July 6, 2014.TODD KOROL/Reuters
The belt buckle of wild pony racer Gordon Erickson at the Calgary Stampede rodeo in Calgary. Belt buckles worn by cowboys are always one of a kind and the only way to obtain one is to win it.TODD KOROL/Reuters
The belt buckle of saddle bronc rider Rylan Geiger of Duchess, Alberta, at the Calgary Stampede rodeo in Calgary. Belt buckles worn by cowboys are always one of a kind and the only way to obtain one is to win it.TODD KOROL/Reuters
The belt buckle of bull rider Claudio Crisostomo of Brazil at the Calgary Stampede rodeo in Calgary. Belt buckles worn by cowboys are always one of a kind and the only way to obtain one is to win it.TODD KOROL/Reuters
Wes Stevenson of Lubbock, Texas rides the horse Sexy Bucks in the bareback event during day 1 of the rodeo at the 102 Calgary Stampede in Calgary. Belt buckles worn by cowboys are always one of a kind and the only way to obtain one is to win it.TODD KOROL/Reuters