ProRodeo Sports News June 14th, 2019

COWBOY CHRISTMAS PREVIEW

WEST OFTHE PECOS RODEO Pecos,Texas June 26-29 pecosrodeo.com The West of the Pecos Rodeo was first held July 4, 1883, in Texas, when a bunch of cowboys got together for bragging rights west of the river, according to pecosrodeo.com, the rodeo’s website. The rodeo claims the distinction of being the “first public cowboy contest wherein prizes were awarded to the winners of bronc riding and steer roping.” The rodeo, which has been held each June since 1936, is held in such high regard that in 2008 it was inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. Today, the West of the Pecos Rodeo ranks among the PRCA’s top 40 rodeos in prize money. Each year, ProRodeo’s biggest names flock to this historic rodeo, which paid out more than $200,000 in 2018. “In the older days, before the change came in how the cowboys started going rodeo to rodeo, families would come and spend a week or two weeks for the rodeo,” longtime Pecos rodeo president Joe Keese said. “A lot of the younger generation came with their dads and granddads and would watch them perform, and then they would turn around and perform. The Pecos buckle and spurs mean a lot to these guys and girls.” Six of the winners of last year’s Pecos rodeo (including the team roping header and heeler combination of Kaleb Driggers and Junior Nogueira) went on to qualify for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. The rodeo alternates specialty acts every couple of years, Keese said. Pete Carr produces the rodeo, which helps draw roughstock cowboys, Keese added. The arena was originally built for steer roping, and that lends to the popularity of the event. “It’s a big arena, it’s got long score lines for timed events,” Keese said. “I

The West of the Pecos Rodeo is one of the world’s oldest.

Courtesy West of the Pecos Rodeo

was talking to a couple of old-time guys. I said, ‘What’s so unique about Pecos and the buckle?’ They said, ‘Pecos is one of those rodeos if you win a timed event, you’re a cowboy, you didn’t just get lucky with a nod and pitch.’ It’s got a lot of tradition and legacy.”

BULL RIDING - STEER WRESTLING - BAREBACK RIDING - TEAM ROPING - SADDLE BRONC RIDING - TIE DOWN ROPING - BARREL RACING WILD COW MILKING - HIDE RACE - KID’S BOOT SCRAMBLE - RODEO PARADE & BBQ - OLD TIMER’S REUNION - NIGHTLY DANCES

F m e inf mati and tickets visit:

PECOSRODEO.COM

BUCK JACKSON ARENA PECOS , T EXAS

ProRodeo Sports News 6/14/2019

ProRodeo.com

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