The Silk Hope Pro Rodeo is an annual stop on the Southern Rodeo Association’s (SRA) competitive circuit, drawing thousands of rodeo fans to the small, rural community in Chatham County, N.C., each year. The 2023 event, which was held from Friday, June 23 to Saturday, June 24 in Silk Hope, N.C., featured events in bareback riding, saddle bronc, breakaway roping, tie-down roping, team roping, barrel racing and bull riding. In the team roping rodeo event, one competitor — the “heeler” — ropes the calf’s back legs, while the other — the “header” — ropes the calf’s head. The event is timed, with the fastest pair to rope both ends of the calf taking home the money.

Cynthia “Cindy” West Rigsbee, 67, kisses her daughter, Beth, 46, on the cheek before climbing into bed on the evening of July 26, 2023, at their home in Durham, N.C. When Beth was a young child, she was diagnosed with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome, a rare form of epilepsy, leading to the need for lifelong care. Cindy has been Beth’s primary caregiver for her entire life, and their time together has formed a unique bond. “One thing [Beth] has taught me is just to take it a day at a time,” Cindy says. “Let’s live in the moment. Let’s not worry about tomorrow. Let’s do what we can today so that we have a tomorrow.”

First year forward Mark Mitchell (25) drives the ball to the basket during Duke's second home game of the season against USC Upstate at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, N.C., on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022. Mitchell finished with 13 points, seven rebounds, three assists and a steal. Duke won 84-38.

Owen Scruggs, a competitor in calf roping, travels frequently to rodeo events. Competing on the rodeo “circuit” means he often travels with the same people, and their time together has formed strong bonds. After a heavy rainstorm nearly delayed the start of the Silk Hope Pro Rodeo in Silk Hope, N.C., on Friday, June 23, 2023, a full rainbow appeared, and Scruggs and his friends took their place on the fence around the competition ring.

For 30 years, Charles Strickland, 87, owner of Strickland Farms in Youngsville, N.C., has been selling produce at his farm off US-401, but recent construction to widen the highway is threatening his business. However, a Facebook post about his situation from his neighbor brought an unexpected boost, and by Wednesday, July 12, 2023, just five days after the post went online, Strickland’s stand was so busy they needed four staff members to keep up. “Last Saturday and Monday, it was like the State Fair,” Strickland said.

President Joe Biden signed an executive order to support military and veteran communities at an event in support of his Joining Forces initiative at Fort Liberty in Fayetteville, N.C., on Friday, June 9, 2023. Service members and their families were escorted onto stage two hours before Biden’s arrival.

Donna Williams, left, and Monique Williams, right, share a laugh at Union Station in Raleigh, N.C., after their northbound Amtrak train was canceled for the second day in a row on Tuesday, July 11, 2023. The two met on July 10, when an engine failure canceled their original train to northern Virginia. After a derailment canceled their rescheduled train on July 11, they were left stranded together again. While waiting for updates from Amtrak, Donna received a call from her oncologist to schedule a mastectomy. When she hung up the phone, Monique asked if she could pray with her. They held hands and prayed, then promised to keep in touch.