Editors' Pick: Rodeo
Can Guilherme Marchi Repeat? The 2009 World Finals are shaping up to be anyone's game
After 15 years of the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) Built Ford Tough World Finals in Las Vegas, no rider has been able to pull off repeat world championships. It's hard.
Defending Champion Guilherme Marchi
Cheyenne, Wyoming
Hosting approximately 400,000 visitors in 2009, Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD) welcomed travelers from all 50 states, plus Japan, Korea, Australia, Canada, England, France, Germany, and Austria. Early risers can watch the free timed event slack rodeo, where overflow contestants compete to set the mark for the main rodeo performances.
Denver, Colorado
The first major rodeo of the year and held each January since 1906, the National Western is a Denver tradition. Filled to the brim with rodeos, livestock, and entertainment, this 16-day festival is more than just a rodeo. Considered the Super Bowl of livestock shows, the National Western is a major draw for serious stockmen.
Calgary, Canada
Calgary proudly bears the nickname “Cowtown,” and rightly so, as the Calgary Stampede is one of the biggest and most storied PRCA events. Celebrating its 98th anniversary in 2010, the tenday, citywide Stampede attracts 1 million visitors each year and is a snapshot of the Canadian West.
Las Vegas, Nevada
Each December a herd of some 120 qualifying cowboys—and cowgirls— make their way to Vegas to compete in rodeo’s main event—the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (WNFR).
PRCA rookie Cody Moore and tie-down roper Clint Arave ride from obscurity to win big at the Daddy of ‘Em All.
Two new stars were born, and arena record was shattered and another record was tied during the biggest day of professional rodeo’s regular season in front of the 11,277 fans in attendance for “Finals Sunday” at the Daddy of ‘Em All.
The Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, Working Ranch Cowboy Association World Championship Ranch Rodeo, and the National Cavalry Competition are three great reasons to hit the road this fall.
Working Ranch Cowboy Assoc.
October 1–2
Pryor, Okla. wrca.org
September 15–18, 2010 marks the centennial of the venerable Pendleton Round-Up. Here’s how to celebrate!
Day 1: Daily: Get an early start at the Cowboy Breakfast, which kicks off at 6 a.m. each day in Stillman Park. From here it’s an easy walk downtown to Hamley & Co., known for its custom harnesses and saddles. The store has been selling Western wear since 1883, including a wide variety of jewelry and other goods. Get to the Round-Up Grounds by 1:15 p.m.
The Palm Springs WestFest and Frank Bogert Memorial Rodeo (March 24-27) are packed with Western action.
The lead up: Boots, jeans, and cowboy hats are the dress code all week long for Western Week, which starts with a Cowboy Kickoff Party on March 20. The preliminaries include a midweek trail ride at Smoke Tree Stables, a charity BBQ party, and a golf tourney at Indian Canyon Golf Club. Or try your luck at the Spa Resort Casino.
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Professional rodeos are well and good, but these organizations light up the arena, too.
The June/July 2011 issue of American Cowboy featured a dozen historic rodeos that helped make modern professional rodeo what it is today--including the Prescott Rodeo, Days of '76 Rodeo, and Ogden Pioneer Days. But rodeo is also more than the card-carrying cowboys that compete in an arena. Here's a look at several other types of rodeos and where to find them.
Photo by Tom Wilmes
Poll
Should cattle branding be replaced with other identification technologies, like iris scanning, tattooing, tagging, etc.?
Yes- branding is a cruel, 19th-century anachronism.
27%
No- branding is cost effective, efficient, and humane.
73%
Total votes: 60
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