In a year that the Unites States celebrates its 250th birthday, it’s only natural to look at history. From the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 to the 1787 Constitutional Convention to the 27 amendments to the Constitution, there’s a patriotic theme that spreads across this land.
Rodeo has its own history, and it began about a century after the Founding Fathers signed that acknowledgement of our freedoms. The first recognized rodeo occurred on Independence Day 1869 in Deer Creek, Colorado.
Before we get into that, let’s take a look at what led to all this. In writing the book “World’s Toughest Rodeo” with Steve Gander, I conducted many hours of research to include a little information on the history of cowboys in America. What I found was fascinating.
As settlers made their way west of the Mississippi River, there was a ruggedness that came with it. Many were crossing into the Mexican Territory, which included Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Arizona, Utah, Nevada and California. Vaqueros were prevalent, because they had incredible horsemanship and amazing talent with a rope.
Their skills were handed on to men who became the first American cowboys, and the ranches that helped tame the Old West needed them. They herded and corralled, then they led the cattle drives to the railheads. Among these outfits were ranch hands who were quite capable, and contests emerged.
Rodeo’s name is derived from the Spanish verb, rodear, which means to circle or round up. It’s a natural confluence of human competitiveness, amazing skills and a bit of ego.
The “World’s First Rodeo” in Pecos, Texas, came about July 4, 1883, when two well-known drovers working for outfits that were making their way through town on their respective journeys had earned reputations of being excellent ropers. The exchanges from their cohorts led to a competition to establish the bragging rights for the best cowboy in the Old West. That hot, summer day in 1883 became launching pad to what we see in rodeo today.
An excerpt from “World’s Toughest Rodeo”: “Like everything in the pioneering life, the daily work became the chessboard by which the cowboys played their games. Who was the best with the rope? Who could rope a steer and tie it down the fastest? Who could ride that bronc nobody wanted to try?
“The roots of rodeo run deep. In today’s society, it’s a throwback to a way of life but also a tip of the cap to the generations of people who founded this land.”
Rodeo’s history should be celebrated, while we also honor the champions of today.
Celebrating the History of Rodeo
