PRORODEO Sports News - July 2, 2026

The St. Paul Rodeo in Oregon cele brates the USA every Fourth of July. This year the rodeo coincides with the U.S. Semiquincentennial, and the rodeo’s 90th anniversary. PRCA photo by Lara St. Jacques

Mont., will host its 95th annual event this year and members of the com mittee said they’ve never heard of the rodeo being held on any other date than the Fourth of July. Wyatt Planichek is in his first year as the president of the Home of Champions Rodeo committee, but it’s a role he was born for. His father Joe Planichek and grandfather Calvin Cortner both held the title during their stints on the committee. Planichek said celebrating Inde pendence Day means everything to the committee. “We’re all about our veterans,” he said. “We put on our parade from July 2-4 and the grand marshal this year is a decorated war hero, Hank Toole. He was a helicopter pilot in Vietnam. We’re all about celebrating America, especially over the Fourth.” In honor of the semiquincentenni al, the local chapter of the VFW will

bring out the American flag in their full garb and of course they’ll put on a big fireworks display as well. For Planichek and the dozens of other committees hosting rodeos during the Fourth of July or any other day for that matter, patri

events themselves. “If you look at the cowboys and cowgirls and talk to any of them, they’re all about America,” Planichek said. “Rodeo is the No. 1 sport for America.”

otism isn’t a show

– it’s in grained in the Spirit of the West and as much a part of

Cowtown Rodeo in Pilesgrove, N.J., celebrates America in a big way each summer, honoring the nation’s inde pendence, its military, and the country’s cowboy roots. PRCA photo by Andre Da Silva

rodeo as the

10 PRORODEO SPORTS NEWS DIGITAL MAGAZINE July 2, 2026