Brawley Cattle Call Rodeo 2023

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Brawley, California – The time is now for the Brawley Cattle Call Rodeo on November 10th, 11th, and 12th. The event will be held at the Brawley Cattle Call Arena located at 550 Cattle Call Drive, Brawley, California 92227. This will be a weekend filled with good old-fashioned, fast-action rodeo for all ages! Purchase your tickets today!

Brawley Cattle Call Rodeo
November 10th, 11th, and 12th
550 Cattle Call Drive, Brawley, California 92227

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Contestants will travel from all parts of the US to compete in the Brawley Cattle Call Rodeo. A large contingent of WPRA barrel racers and PRCA top riders and ropers will be expected as Cattle Call is a PRCA season opener. Contestants who earn points in Brawley will get an early lead in the World Standings.

Details

This extreme event kicks off each performance with an opening ceremony followed by the crowd favorite Mutton Busting and the Rough and Tough Wild Horse Race. There will be six PRCA events including Bareback Riding, Saddle Bronc Riding, Steer Wrestling, Tie Down, Team Roping, and Bull Riding. The WPRA will feature exciting Barrel Racing. Next, it’ll be time for Team Penning which features five teams of local cowboys and cowgirls competing for the fastest time penning three steers. Of course, no rodeo would be complete without clowns to crack some jokes to the crowd.

Credit: Brawley Cattle Call Rodeo

Not only are you getting to witness a fantastic rodeo that’ll have you on the edge of your seats but there will be fantastic music and shopping! Bring an appetite as there will be lots of food and drink treats for purchase! Get ready for hot dogs, carne asada burritos, polish sausage, hamburgers, corn dogs, tri-tip sandwiches and all the trimmings, kettle corn, fries, nachos, and much more. Water, sodas, the popular Beer Garden, and homemade ice will also be available. Come out and support the non-profit organizations.

Credit: Brawley Cattle Call Rodeo

Gates Open

Friday, November 10 – 5:00 pm
Saturday, November 11 – 5:00 pm
Sunday, November 12 – 11:00 am

Tickets

Friday, November 10 – Reserved $30/General Admission $20
Saturday, November 11 – Reserved $30/General Admission $20
Sunday, November 12 – Reserved $20/General Admission $10

*Get your tickets now. Tickets are also available that day at the gate. Selection may be limited.

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Family Day – Sunday, November 12th

Sunday is family day. Free Pony Rides, Face Painting, Roping Exhibition, and more. Gates open at 11:00 come and enjoy family day events before the rodeo!

Credit: Brawley Cattle Call Rodeo

Cattle Call History – Where it All Began on a High School Football Field

In 1957, the Chamber of Commerce realized that Brawley had no annual event like the surrounding towns. They made the decision to host a celebration in Brawley saluting the cattle industry and this is when the first parade and rodeo was born. There was a contest held to propose a name and the winner was Mrs. Rex Hudson who submitted the name “Cattle Call”. The very first Cattle Call Rodeo was held on the Brawley High School football field in 1957. The event was a far cry from the successful event it is today. After that first year, Ed Rutherford, Al Smith, Dick Smith, and Louise Willey met at the Planters Hotel and decided to build a permanent rodeo arena.

**The four founders, (left to right): Ed Rutherford, Louise Willey, Al Smith, and Dick Smith – Credit: Brawley Cattle Call Rodeo**

The new location was a brush-filled river bottom that was owned by the City of Brawley. It was home to rabbits, rattlesnakes, coyotes, and skunks. Ed, Al, Dick, and Louise became known as the Arena Committee, they each made personal donations to the building fund. They also set up donations from others in the community. Many local businesses and local service clubs made donations of equipment, materials, and labor needed to build the arena.

The original bucking chute gate that was built in 1958 is on display today as the arena was built along the brush-choked banks of the New River. With the inspiration of the original Arena Committee and the help of the entire Brawley community making their idea come to life, the facility was built and completed barely in time for the 1958 event. It was called the Brawley Cattle Call and Imperial Valley Rodeo. A few years later the rodeo became known as the Cattle Call Rodeo.

Since then, the arena has expanded and improved several times through an agreement between the City and the Rodeo Committee to use net proceeds from the rodeo for maintenance and improvements. The Rodeo Committee is very thankful for the generous support from local companies and service groups. This has been a long-term partnership between the City of Brawley, the Rodeo Committee, and the community. They’ve helped the success of the Cattle Call Rodeo as well as giving the community a beautiful park and arena to be proud of and enjoy.

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Megan deFabry

Howdy, I'm Megan deFabry. I grew up in Reno, Nevada, but since 2017 my heart has called Texas home. I now reside in Austin, Texas since 2020. I'm driven by my faith, cherished relationships with family and friends, and my professional ambitions. I'm passionate about digital marketing and journalism, especially the wide-open spaces of America's Western lifestyle, the grit of agriculture, the excitement of rodeo, and the heart of country music. For nearly a decade, I've been sharing this way of life through storytelling. And like any good cowboy tale, there's a loyal sidekick, my little Dachshund, Frank, who I adopted from a shelter in New Braunfels, Texas, back in 2018. He keeps me grounded, reminding me to chase horizons and savor life's simple joys. I graduated from Texas State University with a Bachelor of Science in Consumer Affairs and a minor in Mass Communication. My major taught me to decode consumer behavior, which is crucial for marketing, while my minor sharpened my storytelling skills. Since then, I've spent years mastering SEO and content strategy, staying ahead in a fast-moving field. My work even caught the eye of Cowboy Lifestyle Network's CTO, Irish Padmore, who recognized me for contributing to his research on Consumer Behavior in the Age of AI. Since 2018, I've been honored to work at Cowboy Lifestyle Network. Now as Editor-in-Chief writing, editing, and publishing articles that capture the cowboy spirit, crafting strategies rooted in Western values, and building real client connections. Guided by ethical journalism, I aim to tell stories that resonate and reflect the unsung heroes of the Western spirit.