Rodeo News

Save the Date for the 139th World’s Oldest Continuous Rodeo in Payson, Arizona!

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Payson, Arizona is where rodeo began. Starting in 1884 the Annual World’s Oldest Continuous Rodeo is a world-famous event that will celebrate its 139th consecutive year in 2022 on August 19 and 20.

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 to CLN

Early Payson rodeos weren’t held in fancy arenas. In fact, 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’. This year’s activities will feature everything from beautiful rodeo royalty to the Shiner’s participation in the annual rodeo parade.

Named the country’s Best Small Rodeo (according to the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, which sanctions the event and recently named the Official Best Small-Town PRCA Rodeo in the West by True West Magazine, it continues to attract the best of the best from all over the world to compete for substantial prize money.

Credit to CLN

Payson Pro Rodeo performances start at 7:00 PM Friday and Saturday night and at 1:00 PM Saturday afternoon. Gates open 2 hours prior to the performances. Friday is the Tough Enough to Wear Pink night that helps raise funds for local breast cancer support groups. Saturday evening is the Patriot Performance that honors our returning, fallen, and wounded veterans, with a special tribute during the Payson Pro rodeo. Saturday afternoon is Family Day with prizes for kids. Tickets are available online at paysonprorodeo.com. Tickets will also be available at the gate, but some performances sell out early.

Credit to CLN

The rodeo festivities include the Rodeo Parade. It will be held on August 20, starting at 9:00 AM, on Historic Main Street in Payson, Arizona. The Parade is sponsored by The Rim Country Kiwanis of Zane Gray Country. It includes clowns, rodeo queens, and their courts, the Payson High School Band, local floats, riders, first responder teams, and many other great entries from all over Arizona. Join in the fun when real cowboys and cowgirls strut their stuff, along with floats, cars, tractors, team bands, and units of the El Zaribah Shriners. The parade will go east from Green Valley Park along Main Street to Sawmill Crossing. Announcers along the parade route will keep you posted on the coming entries and provide music for your entertainment. So, bring your “mountain” chair, water, and the kids, and enjoy a great morning with some fabulous entertainment, antique cars, clowns, horses, and help Rim Country celebrate The World’s Oldest Continuous Rodeo. For parade applications, please go to the Chamber or to rimcountrychamber.com. Applications are due by August 1st.

Credit to CLN

Adding to the fun on Friday and Saturday night you can kick up your heels at the Payson Pro Rodeo official after party and dance at the Payson Rodeo Grounds. The band will begin playing at 9 PM each night and there is no cover charge for rodeo ticket holders and families are welcome. The cover charge is only $5.00 if you did not attend the rodeo, all are welcome under 21 and must be accompanied by an adult. Come join the fun and experience the place where rodeo began over 139 years ago in Payson, Arizona’s Cool Mountain Town! For more information, please call 928-295-8109 or visit PaysonProRodeo.com.

Jodi Erpelding

I grew up on a Midwest farm with dirt under my fingernails and the sound of wind rustling through cornfields. My childhood was all about 4H – raising pigs and horses, learning to bake and sew, and discovering the magic of transforming a garden into jars of summer sunshine. Those years taught me the value of hard work, the thrill of seeing a project through to the end, and the simple joy of creating something beautiful. A country girl with a need for speed and a thirst for adventure. Maybe that's why I love the feeling of wind in my hair – whether I'm cruising down a dusty road on my Harley or tackling a mountain trail on my trusty mountain bike. Some of my earliest memories of rodeo are watching my father compete at small local events. That's also where my love for country music comes in – long car rides listening to 8 tracks. The lyrics and melodies always spoke to my soul. These days, you'll find me cheering on the cowboys and cowgirls at rodeos, two-stepping to my favorite bands, belting out a country tune at a concert or sharing stories and laughter with friends around a bonfire. When I'm not soaking up the country life and getting my boots dirty, I'm a nurse, caring for folks in my community. Follow along for more stories from the heart of rodeo and country life!

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