ProRodeo Sports News - June 15, 2018

COWBOY CHRISTMAS PREVIEW

WORLD’S OLDEST RODEO Prescott,Ariz. June 28-July 4 worldsoldestrodeo.com BythetimeArizonabecameastateinFebruary1912,thePrescottrodeowas approachingits25thyearofaction. Prescott’sfirstofficialrodeowasJuly4,1888,andby1913thecompetition movedtoitscurrentlocationwhiletakingthenamePrescottFrontierDays.By1985, ittrademarkedthename“World’sOldestRodeo.” “It’sagreattributetothebusinesspeopleofPrescottwhosponsoritandthe volunteerswhoputtheuncountabletimetokeepingtherodeogoing,”saidJ.C. Trujillo,generalmanagerforPrescottFrontierDaysandthe1981BarebackRiding WorldChampion.“Foranyeventtogo131yearsisreallysomethingspecial.” Prescott’srodeowasthefirsttohaveasetofrulesandtochargeentryfees andadmission,whichhelpedprovidesomeblueprintsfortheCowboys’Turtle Association,theforerunnertotheRodeoCowboysAssociation,Trujillosaid. “It’swhereyoucansaytheseedforProRodeowasplanted,”Trujillosaid. PrescotthasplayedhosttomanyofProRodeo’sbiggestnames,suchasLeo Camarillo,whonotched15winsatPrescottfrom1969-82,andLarryMahan(1973, ’77and’79). PrescottalsoishometomanyProRodeoHallofFamers,includingTrujillo, 1926SaddleBroncRidingWorldChampionMikeStuartandAsburySchell,the teamropingworldchampionin1937,’39and’52.GeorgeRichardsandBradSmith, the1978teamropingworldchampions,alsotracetheirrootstoPrescott,Trujillosaid. NotonlyisawininPrescottprestigious,italsopayswell.Thisyear’srodeohas $15,000foreachevent. “We’vebuiltthemoneyuptodrawthecowboysherefromWyomingand MontanaduringtheFourthofJuly,”Trujillosaid,addingthatalotofthestockhave beentotheWranglerNationalFinalsRodeo.“AndeveryperfItrytomakesurethere’s thesamekindofstockthatyoucanwinsomethingon.” OLDWESTTRAIL RODEO Crawford, Neb. July 3-4 oldwesttrailrodeo.com In northwest Nebraska sits the small town of Crawford, population fewer than 1,000. Over the years, Crawford has become known for its OldWest Trail Rodeo. In 2018, the 72nd annual rodeo will take place. “This rodeo means everything to this community, and everybody takes a little pride in the success of the rodeo,” said Brooke Bass, OldWest Trail Rodeo president. “There isn’t a business in town that doesn’t benefit from it. We go from having 800-900 people in our town to several thousand for a day and the weekend. It’s a significant impact on the community.” This year, the rodeo will be a two-day event. It takes plenty of volunteer hours to make it happen. “I have five, full-time board members and my son, Travon, who is 17, also helps out,” Bass said. “My wife, Jody, also is on the board, and we just get a lot of community support to make this rodeo a success. We try to put on the best rodeo we can with what we have to work with. We keep things simple and we have really good stock with Summit Pro Rodeo, and that’s really picked up our cowboy numbers the last few years. It works good for us that our rodeo is during Cowboy Christmas.” In addition to the rodeo, there are other festivities to attend. “On the Fourth of July, we have a big parade at 10 a.m. (MT) that goes all through town,” Bass said. “Then, three miles west of town is Fort Robinson State Park, which was an old cavalry post, and they are big supporters of the rodeo.”

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ProRodeo Sports News 6/15/2018

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