For more than 75 years, Durant, Oklahoma has been attracting the most fanatic rodeo enthusiasts with its highly-anticipated Durant Pro Rodeo in June, having been UPRA-sanctioned for years. This year, renowned Wrangler NFR bucking stock, as well as PRCA and WPRA rodeo athletes from across the country, will bring their best to this Okie town as excited fans and families pack the stands. This event will take place on June 4 and June 5 at 7:30pm at the Durant Riding Club arena. One of the exciting faces that will be seen in the arena this year is that of the acclaimed Rockin’ Robbie Hodges Clown/Barrelman. Another beloved voice that fans will look forward to hearing belongs to West Huggins, highly recognized pro rodeo announcer.
Schedule of Events
Arena: Durant Riding Club Arena
Location: 1901 S 9th Ave
Outdoor Arena
Performances: June 4-5 at 7:30pm
Slack: June 4 8:00am, possibly June 5 8:00am
Get your tickets at Kopper Kettle, Durant Area Chamber of Commerce, or Bokchito Tag Office!
Durant Riding Club
The Durant Riding Club established 80 years ago in 1941, is a nonprofit organization in Oklahoma that promotes equestrian events and educational opportunities. Its members focus on benefiting the citizens of Bryan County. Every year, they look forward to putting on their pro rodeo in June, perfectly fulfilling their goal of bringing the community together through unifying events. They work to preserve the western way of life and stand as advocates for cowboy heritage.
About Durant, Oklahoma
Durant is located about 150 miles south of both Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Durant is also home of the world’s largest peanut and the Magnolia Festival. Although it holds quite a few intriguing sites and attractions, one of the most anticipated is its pro rodeo. It runs rich in Native American history, being that Durant is the capital city and holder of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma headquarters. You can bet on some beautiful culture and fun booths at this year’s event! What better way to kick off summer than with a pro rodeo with the best of the best.
History
Durant’s history stems from a family of French-Choctaw origin followed the immigration of the Choctaw Nation from the Valley of the Great River, the Mississippi. The Cherokee’s journey chronicled as “the Trail of Tears, heartaches and death,” ended in a new country west of the Territory of Arkansas and situated between the Red River of the South and the South Canadian River of the north. The claim extended west to Mexico, which is now the eastern boundary line of the northwest Texas territory commonly known and called the “panhandle.” Pierre Durant, pronounced DuRant in French, and his four sons made the trudge down the Mississippi on the way to the southeastern part of the Choctaw Nation in 1832. The brothers, grown, with families of their own, established homesteads from the Arkansas line to Durant.
One son, Fisher, married to a full blood Choctaw, found a beautiful location for a home between Durant’s present Eight and Ninth Avenues. His son, Dixon Durant is recognized as the founder of Durant and is honored with his namesake. As an early day minister, businessman and civic leader, Dixon Durant is credited with pastorates in local Presbyterian, Congregationalist and Methodist churches; establishment of the first store selling general merchandise; and possibly influencing the 1872 erection of a Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad (Katy Railroad) siding at Durant, thus producing the initial impetus for establishing the community.
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