Payson, Arizona – This is where rodeo began. Starting in 1884 the annual World’s Oldest Continuous Rodeo is a world-famous event that will celebrate over 140 consecutive years kicking off on August 16th and 17th, 2024. This August rodeo is full of rich Western tradition and holds dear the title of “best small-town rodeo in the world.” Get your tickets now for the longest-running rodeo in the United States.
Credit: Cowboy Lifestyle Network
The World’s Oldest Continuous Rodeo August 16th & 17th, 2024 1400 South Beeline Hwy Payson, Arizona 85541
The first rodeos in Payson provided local ranchers and cowhands a chance to get together and compare their roping and ranching skills during the annual “down time” before the big fall roundup. There were only a couple of events in those early rodeos, but it was not long before cowboys from all over the state and beyond were showing up to compete in new events like bronc busting, bull riding, and steer roping.
Credit: Cowboy Lifestyle Network
Early Payson rodeos weren’t held in fancy arenas. The original venue was a meadow near the intersection of Main Street and Highway 87/The Beeline. Wagons and later autos created barriers to line Main Street to form the ‘arena’.
Wednesday, August 14, 2024 – Chamber Mixer & Cowboy Cornhole
Payson Event Center: Come enjoy the Chamber Mixer at the Payson Event Center from 5-9 PM. Thank you to Crown Royal as the sponsor of the evening doing tastings! Appetizers served at 5:30 PM! Click here to register for the Cowboy Cornhole event here.
Thursday, August 15th, 2024 – Women’s Cactus Series Barrel Racing
Sponsored by Women’s Foundation for the State of Arizona.
Gates open @ 5 PM Performance @ 6 PM Admission (1) can of food.
Various food and merchandise vendors are available at the rodeo grounds. Adult beverages are available for purchase from the Payson Pro Rodeo Committee. Must be 21 years or older and comply with the Arizona Liquor Laws.
Friday Night, August 16th, 2024 – Performance: Wrangler Bucking Cancer
Wear your pink shirt to show your support for breast cancer awareness Gates open @ 5 PM Performance @ 7 PM Proceeds to benefit local breast cancer awareness programs.
Location: 1400 South Beeline Hwy, Payson, Arizona 85541
General Public
You will go into the main entrance from Highway 87 into the rodeo grounds via Green Valley Parkway. Two lanes will lead one way in. You will be directed to paid public and handicap parking spaces.
Parking at each PRCA Rodeo Performance is $10.00cash per vehicle payable upon entry to the Payson Event Center. Parking is limited and subject to availability. Overflow parking is available at the Casino across the highway.
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.
