Shortly after the Reno Rodeo, it was time for the Prescott Frontier Days, the World’s Oldest Rodeo. Some people balk at that title, claiming that Pecos, Texas, North Platte, Nebraska, or Deer Trail, Colorado actually host the world’s oldest rodeo. However, they are simply confused/misinformed.
Rodeo is a Spanish word and it refers to the definition of rounding up. This type of rodeo has been going on for centuries. But what about the rodeo we know today? Before the use of the term rodeo, they were normally called cowboy contests. Some of these can actually be considered rodeos, and some can’t. That’s what I am going to help with right now. What exactly is a rodeo? There are five criteria:
1. a committee to plan and stage the rodeo
2. cowboys are invited to compete
3. admission is charged
4. prizes and trophies are given out
5. the contest is documented
Prescott was able to document all five of the criteria at the oldest date (1988), thus vindicating their name from the U.S. Patent Office, the World’s Oldest Rodeo. The registration of this trademark name (Service Mark No. l,353,477) was the result after some controversy when the game Trivial Pursuit came out with their 1985 game that had the question “What rough-and-tumble Western sport was first formalized in Prescott, Arizona?” And now anyone who reads this will know the answer and can answer unequivocally: RODEO!!
Despite the controversy over the time of the inception, no one can deny that the Prescott Frontier Days is one of the best rodeos around. The committee does such a wonderful job! I am so honored to represent the state that hosts this historic 4th of July celebration!
For each performance, I posted the colors on Harry Vold’s horse ‘Sport’ with Miss Rodeo Colorado 2008 Megan Grieve. Fellow Arizonans, I can promise you that every time I carry that beautiful Arizona flag, I do not take the responsibility lightly. I am an Arizona native, and I am so honored to be able to represent each one of you. We are so fortunate to call our wonderful state home, and I try my hardest to exhibit the potent pride we all have of Arizona.
Each rodeo performance was exhilarating, with some top cowboys and cowgirls making some top times and scores. Competitors who make their way to the Grand Canyon state during Cowboy Christmas for this rodeo cannot find disappointment. Not only is it a Silver rodeo on the Wrangler Million Dollar tour, but the crowd is spectacular, the venue is beautiful, and the weather is great… normally.
This year, we did deal with a little rain, which created a mucky arena. But contestants, stock, and fans all toughed it out. I think we may have created some new events though: steer skating (very similar to steer wrestling, but before you actually wrestle the steer down, you must skate (while being propelled by the steer) on top of the mud), and tie down fishing (very similar to calf roping, except before actually tying the calf up, you must fish it first out of the mud). Even shagging the cattle turned into a new experience for me and my horse as we were sliding all over place. But the thing I love about Prescott, even though things got damper, everyone was just as dapper!
I really cannot think of a better place to spend the fourth of July than Prescott. My heart pounded with patriotism as I watched Miss Rodeo Arizona 2007 Katie Hill proudly carry that huge American flag around the arena.
We are so lucky to live in the country we live in. We have the freedom to start each rodeo off with a prayer, in which we thank our father in heaven for giving us the freedom to do so.
My fourth of July prayer: I am so grateful for the Lord’s hand in the inception of this country. The divinely inspired men who started it must never be forgotten. Their bravery led to the formulation of the safest haven for liberty in the entire world. Then each man and woman who fights for this country and maintains what these man started are just as responsible for the freedoms we enjoy. We cannot forget any of these individuals. We must lift our prayers of gratitude to the heavens, and ask the Lord to bless each person who is responsible for securing the abilities that we have to do just that– to pray to our father in heaven. We must ask God to Bless America, and then we should thank him for it too.
“It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ. For that reason alone, people of other faiths have been afforded freedom of worship here.”
- Patrick Henry, Patriot 1776
Very informative site, but is there a type-0 when you said 1988 ? should’nt it be 1888 ?
Thanks