ProRodeo Sports News - August 2, 2019

COMMITTEE

Photo courtesy Cody Stampede

Cody Stampede Historic rodeo inducted during centennial season BY MATT NABER A n induction into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame should come as no surprise for a town that was started by American iconWilliam Frederick “Buffalo Bill” Cody. Cody, Wyo., is often called the “Rodeo Capitol of the with us through thick and thin, and the rodeo contestants and board members with a lot of dexterity – mentally and physically – and with the resiliency to get the job done.” The Cody Stampede won the PRCA’s Best Large Outdoor Rodeo of the Year award in 1998 and 1999, and its arena was where many legends of ProRodeo got their start, such as 1962World Champion Bull Rider Freckles Brown and rodeo cowboy and musician Chris LeDoux. “If you look back 100 years and see what they had

World” – and for good reason since it’s home to the Cody Stampede rodeo which has attracted countless tourists to the small town just east of Yellowstone National Park since 1919. Now in its centennial year, the Cody Stampede is being inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame. “It’s amazing and outstanding, and it’s not just this year’s board it’s 100 years of boards,” said Michael Darby, co-president of the Cody Stampede Board. “We were hoping it would be this year since this is our centennial, it’d be a good kickoff to our celebration.” Buffalo Bill began as a rider for the Pony Express and went on to help settle the northwestern Rocky Mountain region and created the world-traveling “Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show,” which taught the world about cowboy life during the late 1800s thanks in part to the sharp-shooting skills of Annie Oakley. With Buffalo Bill as the town’s patriarch, inspiration struck for the Cody Rodeo. In addition to the Cody Stampede, the town also hosts 90 consecutive days of rodeo competition from June 1 through Aug. 31. “It’s endured a WorldWar, the Great Depression and tough times in the U.S.,” Darby said. “But it’s a credit to the people of this town and to the sponsors who stuck

to work with, it was amazing,” Darby said. “No arena, no grandstands, electricity wasn’t plentiful, and they didn’t have scoreboards. It kept building for 100 years and the city had the foresight to move the rodeo from different locations to where it is now. People volunteered to weld the grandstands and donated money and thousands of hours. The town fathers were incredible. It takes your breath away, and I’m glad to be part of it. It’s a great storied history that’s still going to this day.” Now the Cody Stampede and the corresponding Xtreme Bulls event boast a combined payout in excess of $400,000 with big names in rodeo production, such as local cowboy and nine-time Bullfighter of the Year Dusty Tuckness and four-time Announcer of the Year Boyd Polhamus. The rodeo also features some top-notch stock by working with three-time Stock Contractor of the Year Frontier Rodeo. “It’s like a dream that’s come true and gives you a deeper appreciation for what’s been going on there the last 100 years,” Darby said. “It’s a great honor to be associated with the great names in rodeo.”

QUICK FACTS • Established in 1919 • Voted PRCA’s Best Large Out- door Rodeo of the Year in 1998 and 1999 • One of the biggest rdeos

of Cowboy Christmas

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