THE RODEO LIFESTYLE

For many that reside throughout our beautiful Western landscapes, the Rodeo is a true American celebration of simpler times. It is a worldwide sport with countless associations in the U.S. alone and has emerged from history as a legendary event and way of life. From the spectacularly large belt buckles to the deafening crowds, there is nothing like a Western rodeo!

Starting in the 1880s, various Wild West shows featured “cowboy tournaments” around the United States, associating the open-range practices with sporting performance. Back then, the vast countryside was run by ranchers, but the word “rodeo” was never an Americanized term. In fact, it comes from the Spanish word, meaning “to surround.” The practices of ranching stem from these early days in Spain and Portugal: herding, round-ups, cattle drives, and branding. Today, the rodeo remains a world-wide sport, popular in the USA, Australia, throughout Latin America and in the Philippines.

American rodeos naturally derived from our cowboys’ standard workday. They evolved from a time when cowboys would gather at the end of cattle-driving trails and have a little friendly competition to see who the best bucking-horse rider or roper was. These contests then became regular forms of entertainment. Today’s professional rodeo cowboy is a bit different from his predecessor from the 1800s, although the traditional ideals of sportsmanship and showmanship are still valued by today’s competitors.

According to the Pro Rodeo Cowboy’s Association (PRCA), “a cowboy’s standing in the sport of rodeo still depends on his skill with a rope or his ability to ride a bucking animal, his toughness in the face of setbacks, and his gratitude and humility about the success he achieves.” His standing in the rodeo community still depends on his adherence to the cowboy code, which says “a man helps his fellow competitors even when they are competing for the

same paycheck – many cowboys loan horses and equipment to even their closest competitors – and teach what they know to younger cowboys.”

Typical rodeo events include, bareback-bronc riding, calf roping, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, team roping, barrel racing, bull riding and steer roping. So whether it’s the boots and chaps, majestic beasts, or impressive athleticism, folks continue to enjoy the thrill of witnessing horse and cowboy teamwork, challenging, daring feats, and tests of true grit required to tame the wild west.

Some of our favorite western rodeos include the Bigfork Summer Rodeo, Upper Yellowstone Roundup, Gem State Stampede Barrel Series in Kootenai County, ID, and of course the Cody Stampede Rodeo. Cody, Wyoming claims to be the “Rodeo Capital of the World”, beginning over one hundred years ago with William Frederick “Buffalo Bill” Cody, and his Wild West Show. Buffalo Bill quickly saw the need to preserve a part of what was soon to become civilized, and he recognized the fascination the public had for this spectator sport. The Cody Nite Rodeo is the longest running and the only nightly rodeo (June-August) in the world.

Get in on the action at one of these events happening with the best cowboys around!

JUNE 2021

June 3 - August 28 (Wed. & Sat.) Jackson Hole Rodeo Jackson Hole, WY

June 1 - August 31 Cody Night Rodeo Stampede Park, Cody, WY

June 11 Dawson County Fair & PRCA Rodeo Gendive, MT

June 19-20 Little Belt Cowboys PRCA Rodeo Belt, MT

June 25 Summer Celebration & PRCA Rodeo Fort Benton, MT

June 25-26 Little Big Horn Stampede PRCA Rodeo Hardin, MT

Jun 25-26 Meridian Lions Rodeo Meridian, ID

June 27 American Legion PRCA Rodeo Augusta, MT

JULY 2021

July 2-4 Livingston Roundup PRCA Rodeo Livingston, MT

July 2-4 Home of Champions PRCA Rodeo Red Lodge, MT

July 4-6, Monday Bigfork Summer PRCA Rodeo Bigfork, MT

July 8-9 Bear Paw Roundup PRCA Rodeo Chinook, MT

July 8-10 Wild Horse Stampede PRCA Rodeo Wolf Point, MT

July 13-18 Sheridan Wyo Rodeo Sheridan, WY

July 18 CM Russell PRCA Stampede Stanford, MT

July 21-22 Central Montana PRCA Pro Rodeo Lewistown, MT

July 22-23 Sheridan Saddle Club PRCA Rodeo Plentywood, MT

July 27-28 NE Montana Fair & PRCA Rodeo Glasgow, MT

July 23 - August 1 Cheyenne Frontier Days Cheyenne, WY

July 28-31 Big Sky PRCA Pro Rodeo Roundup Great Falls, MT

July 29-31 Last Chance Stampede PRCA Rodeo Helena, MT

July 30-31 Kootenai River Stampede PRCA Rodeo Libby, MT

AUGUST 2021

August 5-6 Richland County Fair & PRCA Rodeo Sidney, MT

August 5-7 Idaho’s Oldest Rodeo Idaho Falls, ID

August 11-15 Missoula Stampede PRCA Rodeo Missoula, MT

August 13-14 Cascade PRCA Pro Rodeo Cascade, MT

August 13-15 Yellowstone River Roundup PRCA Rodeo Billings, MT

August 12-13 McCone County Fair & PRCA Rodeo Circle, MT

August 14-15 Fallon County Fair & PRCA Rodeo Baker, MT

August 17-18 Eastern Montana Fair & PRCA Rodeo Miles City, MT

August 18-21 Bonner County Fair & Rodeo Sandpoint, ID

August 19-21 NW Montana Fair & PRCA Rodeo Kalispell, MT

August 20-22 Wild Weippe Rodeo Weippe, ID

Aug 27-28 Jack Pine Round Up Bulls & Broncs Idaho City, ID

SEPTEMBER 2021

September 3-4 Sanders County Fair & PRCA Rodeo Plains, MT

September 4-5 Dillon Jaycee PRCA Rodeo “Montana’s Biggest Weekend” Dillon, MT

September 5-6 Labor Day PRCA Rodeo White Sulphur Springs, MT

September 8-11 Lewiston Roundup Classic Lewiston, ID

OCTOBER 2021

October 16-23 First Montana PRCA Pro Rodeo of the 2022 Rodeo Season NILE PRCA Rodeo Billings, MT

December 2-11 Wrangler National Finals PRCA Rodeo Las Vegas, NV

DECEMBER 2021

JANUARY 2022

January 14-16 43rd Annual Montana PRCA Pro Rodeo Circuit Finals Great Falls, MT

*All dates subject to change.