Experience the Wild West Like Never Before at the 2023 Greeley Stampede Rodeo!

The 2023 Greeley Stampede gallops into Greeley, Colorado, from June 22nd to July 4th, and it is an event you’re not going to want to miss! A rodeo event that started with small ambitions to honor local potato farmers has grown into an attraction that now sees more than 250,000 people annually. This year promises to bring more action and excitement, which includes concerts with superstars like Flo Ride, Lee Brice, Dustin Lynch, Sam Hunt, and more, Red Dirt Day featuring some of your favorite red dirt bands, a demolition derby, the Heritage of Mexico rodeo, and the PRCA Pro Rodeo Series. Check out the highlights from last year’s event below!

About the Greeley Stampede

The event originated in the late 1800s and officially became the Greeley Spud Rodeo in 1922. The main events included bucking bronc riding, fancy roping, a pie-eating contest, a horse race, motorcycle, and bicycle races, and a two-mile Model-T Ford “free for all” race. From there, the event morphed into the “Go West with Greeley” Rodeo to gain national recognition. This was taken from the famous phrase coined by the town’s founder Horace Greeley, who said, “Go west, young man. Go west.” 1972 saw the name changed again to the Greeley Independence Stampede. Today the event encompassed many community events throughout the year, with the main attraction covering 12 days.

The 2023 Greeley Stampede rodeo is organized and run by volunteers who are part of the community. The commitment to this event runs deep and is evident in a group called the Old Buckers, made up of former committee members who desire to continue serving their community through this event. The host rodeo for the Miss Rodeo Colorado has been the Greeley Stampede for the past 23 years, being a great contributor to the program, which symbolizes the youth of Colorado who wishes further to promote the sport of rodeo and our western heritage. 

This Year’s Event

This year the Grand Marshalls are Warren and Julie Yoder, long-time supporters and sponsors of the event, and are second-generation honorees. Warren’s father, Lee Yoder, was the Grand Marshall in 2005 to honor his contribution to the rodeo event and the community. According to the Greeley Stampede website, the Yoders have served on many boards in the community, including the Chamber of Commerce, Greeley Transitional House, Habitat for Humanity, and more as chair members of the Cattle Barons Ball in 2019, an event that supports the American Cancer Society, Julie and Warren were the first to raise over $1,000,000 for the event’s cause. “We’re proud of the money that we raised for the American Cancer Society and the success of the event that year,” added Julie.

Event Schedule for the 2023 Greeley Stampede

The festivities get kicked off on June 17th for the Big Buckle Ball, a night of celebrations hosted by Randilyn Madison, 2023 Miss Rodeo Colorado. June 22nd is when all the action begins! Check out the Parade in the Park, Sheep Stampede, and the PRCA Extreme Bulls, to name a few activities. June 23rd features the youth rodeo and a concert with Flo Rida. The PRCA rodeo kicks off on June 26th and runs through June 29th. But stick around because the excitement isn’t over yet! Tyler Hubbard of Florida Georgia Line performs on June 30th, and Dustin Lynch is singing his heart out on July 1st. On July 3rd, Sam Hunt takes the stage, and of course, the real festivities get going on July 4th with the Independence Day Parade and Demolition Derby. Learn more about the 2023 Greeley Stampede here.