ProRodeo Sports News - May 31, 2019

RENO RODEO

in $57.4 million in non-local spending during the 10 days of the rodeo. This year’s rodeo is June 21-29. “It creates jobs for the community, and we’re proud of that,” Torvinen said. For the last few years the Reno Rodeo Foundation, Reno Rodeo Association and the city of Reno Arts &Culture Commission have been working on a project called “100 years 100 Stories.” With local digital storyteller Jessi LeMay at the helm, the “100 Years 100 Stories” project includes live storytelling events, video footage, photography, articles and more to tell the story of the Reno Rodeo. (For more on the project, go to jessilemay.com/ renorodeo100) Reno already is looking ahead to

Heralded as the “Wildest, Richest Rodeo in the West,” the Reno Rodeo was originally known as the Nevada Round-Up in 1919, a community celebration led by the Commercial Club, the precursor to the Reno Chamber of Commerce. The initial goal was to create a volunteer-driven event to attract the top cowboys and cowgirls in professional rodeo, while also bringing tourists to the area. A century later, it’s safe to say that goal has been surpassed. “I think it’s the passion for the event year after year,” said Mike Torvinen, president of the Reno Rodeo. “Everyone in our association is very passionate

the next 100 years with the creation of a 15,000-seat facility at the rodeo’s current location. A concept video of that vision can be seen at renorodeo.com/about/ future-plans/. “It’s in the infancy of that, but if we can get it pulled off in the next 10 years we’ll be sitting pretty for the next 100 years,” Torvinen said. “We’re proud of what we’re doing. There’s no sign of slowing down after 100 years.” ProRodeo Hall of Fame photo

ProRodeo Hall of Famer Everett Bowman’s stop at the Reno Rodeo helped him win his second all-around world title in 1937.

about it and that’s the big thing. It becomes a tradition. We’ve had a lot of success the last couple years getting the city excited, and we’ve got sponsors coming out of the woodwork. “So when we have a bigger facility, we can get more people involved at a higher level, and things will explode.” An economic impact study in 2014 determined the Reno Rodeo brings

BLACK HILLS ROUNDUP

Fresh off being inducted into the ProRodeo Hall of Fame and winning Medium Rodeo Committee of the Year in 2018, the Black Hills Roundup in Belle Fourche is gearing up for its 100th competition. “For the last few years we’ve had the Hall of Fame and the rodeo of the year,” said Black Hills Roundup chairman Clay Crago, adding that none of it would be possible without their volunteers. “Now, we’re coming into the 100th. It’s been mind- boggling to know we helped get it here for 100 years, and now it’s going for the next 100.” The 100th anniversary of Belle Fourche’s first rodeo was technically last year, but the rodeo missed a year due to WorldWar II, so July 3-6, 2019, marks the 100th competition.

Photo courtesy Clay Crago/Black Hills Roundup The Black Hills Roundup originated in 1918, but skipped a year during WWII, making 2019 its100th year.

The Black Hills Roundup started when 15,000 people gathered in a field in Belle Fourche to raise money for WorldWar I in 1918. A century later it’s synonymous with ProRodeo competition. New grandstands are under construction. “It was bittersweet because parts of the old ones were 100 years old, but they’d served their time,” Crago said. Some of the old wood was repurposed for the back of their stage, and local ranchers branded the wall with brands from ranches in the area.

While many of the Roundup’s traditions will remain unchanged for the 100th, the specialty acts will be different. “We’ve had motorcycles in the past, like the X-Games, but this year we went back to something more old-school with the One-Armed Bandit and chuckwagon races,” Crago said. “And we’re having a big street dance with bands playing all night after the rodeo, and our parade will be bigger than ever this year.”

ProRodeo Sports News 5/31/2019

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