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World's Oldest Rodeo

Prescott Frontier Days, World’s Oldest Rodeo Honoring Bullfighters

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Often consisting of a team of two to four athletes, being a bullfighter has become one of the most important jobs at a bull riding event.

Ever wonder what stands between 2,000 pounds of solid muscle and a fallen bull rider? One guy – the bullfighter. Fearless, agile and adept at reading the bull’s next move, a bullfighter is in the arena before the bull is released from the bucking chute. Once a bull rider has been bucked off or jumped off himself, communication between the bullfighter, the barrelman and the bull itself is key to protecting the fallen rider. While he’s distracting the bull to get it away from the rider, the bullfighter is also in constant contact with his team to protect the rider as well as each other.

Part of rodeos since the 1900s, the job has evolved from a rodeo clown who entertained fans to a professional athlete, the bullfighter. Later, to recognize the greater danger faced by these athletes, “bullfighter” began to replace the term “rodeo clown.” While comedy is still used as a distraction and to amuse rodeo fans, some of the humor of clown work began to disappear by the late 1970s.

Often consisting of a team of two to four athletes, being a bullfighter has become one of the most important jobs at a bull riding event. Although some bullfighters still wear clown makeup, they are mainly seen in brightly colored, loose garments that are designed to tear away easily and distract the bulls, while wearing protective gear underneath.

Long-time bullfighter Quirt Hunt started as a bareback rider and a bull rider and found bullfighting more to his liking. “I like the satisfaction of doing a good job, and the close calls,” said Hunt. “Saving the cowboy when you have ahold of the bull and bring his head up, it makes you feel good.”

Beau Schueth grew up watching the rodeo near his hometown of O’Neill, Nebraska and wanted to compete but found that it wasn’t roping or riding that he liked, but bullfighting. After a great deal of hard work, he’s now a national champion bullfighter. “I actually wanted to ride bulls,” Beau recalled. “In college, I wanted something to do, so instead of wasting money learning how to ride bulls, I decided to fight them.”

At the 2023 Prescott Frontier Days, Inc – World’s Oldest Rodeo, we are celebrating our bullfighters. “Dances with Bulls” will be the rodeo parade theme on Saturday, July 1, in downtown Prescott. Hunt, one of Pro Rodeo’s top bullfighters and a performer who values humans’ relationships with animals, will serve as the Grand Marshal for the Rodeo Parade.

We hope you will join us as we welcome Quirt and extend a warm welcome to Beau Schueth, our newest bullfighter and marvel at their skills as they protect our bull riders. Learn more about the World’s Oldest Rodeo purchase tickets at
www.worldsoldestrodeo.com. QCBN

By Yvonne Gibbs

World’s Oldest Rodeo Attracting Thousands

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Spectators can expect added events, major renovations.

If current trends are accurate predictors, the 2022 World’s Oldest Rodeo will break existing records in virtually every category.

Advance ticket sales are already above expectations, and offer a wide range of prices, according to Prescott Frontier Days General Manager Jim Dewey Brown.

It is Brown’s second year of managing the rodeo. He, the board of directors, and organizers have made significant changes to both facilities and the rodeo program. With support from the City of Prescott, sponsors and other resources, they are investing millions of dollars to upgrade and improve the existing rodeo grounds and arena, which have been home to the rodeo since 1913.

But the rodeo itself goes back 134 years, when it started as a “cowboy tournament” on the 4th of July. Since then, it has become one of the top 30 in the country.

Brown, who has been involved in rodeos and rodeo management most his adult career, came to Prescott from his prior role as director of the Socorro, New Mexico, Sports Complex.  He and his wife, Jody, have an adult daughter who now lives in Oklahoma. Because of his many years of competing in rodeos nationally, Brown is familiar with Prescott. In fact, he won the saddle bronc riding competition twice – once in 1995 and again in 2003.

“Rodeo is big business and it certainly is a contributor to the overall Prescott economy,” he said. ”That’s why we’re investing so much in upgrading and improving this year and in coming years. We have seven full-time employees and during the season, [between] 400 and 500 volunteers who make this rodeo successful.”

Improvements include remodeling and reconfiguring the grandstands, renovating and adding restrooms, creating new animal enclosures, replacing exterior rodeo fences and upgrading entry and exit areas.

Changes are being made to events, as well, with more money to be won. “We had a record number of cowboys in 2021, 686 of them, and we expect more this year. We had event sellouts last year and we’ve added events for this year. One, the kids will love – mutton busting –  where kids get a chance to ride a sheep in front of a crowd.”

An opening kickoff party for sponsors and dignitaries on June 27 will feature a special screening of the award-winning movie “Junior Bonner,” starring Steve McQueen, filmed 50 years ago in Prescott at the rodeo grounds and downtown around the Courthouse Square.

“We also know traffic and parking are tough to fight. That’s why we have reserved Mile High Middle School on Thursday through Sunday for an event. Because we know not everyone can get to the rodeo grounds, we’re working on what we hope will be a downtown rodeo experience. The days we sell out, we’ll have vendors downtown and rent a big screen and stream the rodeo down there.”

Prescott City Council members heard high praise for the Prescott rodeo when representatives of Rounds Consulting Group, Inc., (RCG) of Tempe presented an economic impact study in early March.

RCG President Jim Rounds told them that because of the proposed expansion of the rodeo groups and its operations, the community and the state should get even more involved in promoting the activities as something that significantly benefits the region and the state economically. Rounds suggested the rodeo has such a strong impact that it might even qualify for grant opportunities.

PCG Vice President and Senior Economist Luis Cordova said that an economic and fiscal impact model had been developed for the 2021 rodeo. Among key points, the rodeo: attracted 81,500 visitors to Prescott; generated more than $33.5 million during the year; created 337 jobs; and resulted in state and local tax revenues of $.2.6 million – $780,000 to the City of Prescott, $324,700 for Yavapai County, and $1.5 for the state.

It was estimated that during the next 10 years, the potential economic impact might reach $14 million for the city and $36 million for the state.

The World’s Oldest Rodeo runs Tuesday, June 28 through Monday, July 4, with eight rodeo performances scheduled at the Prescott Rodeo Grounds. Admission gates will open two hours in advance. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday performances are at 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. For Monday, July 4, the performance is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. QCBN

By Ray Newton, QCBN

Welcoming Summer with Open Doors in ‘Everyone’s Hometown’

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This year, I know we are all looking forward to celebrating together as there is much to look forward to.

During the Summer of 2020, the typically-lively Prescott area was host to far fewer attendees at summer special events. The impacts of COVID-19 were being felt here and throughout the world, causing everyone to be cautious and conscious of taking care of themselves and others. Now that numbers are decreasing and vaccinations have become more readily available, everyone is looking forward to an opportunity to enjoy the beauty and vibrancy of our community with 2021 Summer Special Events. In addition to the many events on our summer calendar, everyone can now also enjoy the brand new splash pad and railroad themed playground at West Granite Creek Park adjacent to the Hilton Garden Inn.

Several weeks ago, we all saw the first signs of summer with warmer temperatures and the first of many events at the Courthouse Plaza. As the white tents went up and people wandered from merchant to merchant, it really began to look like summertime in our community. The Plaza arts and crafts fairs have become a real draw for Prescott and with so many merchants, there really is something for everyone. These events promote the vitality of our beautiful downtown corridor and mark the start of summertime special events where there is truly something for every member of the family.

Prescott is home to more than 450 miles of trails for hiking, equestrian activity and mountain biking. These trails lend themselves to a number of special events centered on mountain biking or running, and provide options for people of any age and skill level. Throughout the summer, a number of local non-profit organizations will host mountain biking events on trails throughout the community and for the first time, the Prescott Mountain Bike Alliance will host its “Best Party of the Year” for two days this month. For more information on the event, please visit prescottmtb.com. If you prefer to enjoy the local trails on foot, there are also a variety of trail running events this summer.

The historic downtown plaza is also once again alive and bustling with artists, woodworkers, food vendors and a variety of other merchants. Last summer we all missed seeing pop-ups nearly every weekend as so many of the art and festival events on the plaza were canceled. This year, happily, these events are back. Beginning in early May and running throughout summer on various weekends, residents and visitors alike will have the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful weather while supporting merchants at these events. In addition to daytime art and craft festivals, music lovers will again be able to enjoy the annual Summer Concert Series, kicking off this year with the Ponderosa Grove Record Release on June 18. These events also allow tourists to experience the variety of local shops and restaurants in our downtown area and enhance the liveliness of our community.

One new event worth mentioning this year is the Arizona High School Finals Rodeo, June 2-6, at the Rodeo Grounds. This is the first time Prescott has hosted the event in many years, and it will bring dozens of young athletes, their families and supporters to town. Let’s be sure to give them a warm welcome! For information about the event, go to AHSRA.com.

All of these events lead up to what many consider the event of the year, the World’s Oldest Rodeo. Prescott Frontier Days annually hosts the Rodeo and surrounding events in the days leading up to the 4th of July. To purchase tickets, please visit worldsoldestrodeo.com.

This year, I know we are all looking forward to celebrating together as there is much to look forward to. QCBN

By Greg Mengarelli, QCBN

Greg Mengarelli is the mayor of Prescott.

 

World’s Oldest Rodeo Celebrating Major Milestone

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  • History was made on July 4, 1888, in Prescott when the sport of professional rodeo became an organized event that today is a multi-million-dollar industry.

The date was May of 1888, when the town of Prescott began planning a 4th of July celebration that had been ongoing for several years. Festivities included a parade, band concerts and horse races. Although those were fun events, something was missing, according to the planning committee.

The committee wanted to draw local miners and cowboys to town, since the two major industries at the time were mining and ranching, so they added hard-rock drilling contests, fire hose competitions, marching drills and cavalry horse units from nearby Fort Whipple.

While the celebration was fun, something was still missing and they had observed at times cowboys competing against each other on outlying ranches in bronco riding and cattle-roping contests. The action was just what was missing from the festivities, so they decided to include such events.

In order to make rodeo official, an organized set of rules needed to be created. Rules that were established for this event are still used at rodeo across the country today!

The rules included: a committee would organize and run the rodeo; cowboys had to be invited to compete; admission would be charged; prizes were given; and documentation of events and results would be provided. The events included bronco riding (bronc riding), steer roping and tying (tie-down roping) and cow pony races. Cash prizes were offered and admission was charged for attendees; hence, professional rodeo was created!

Today, the World’s Oldest Rodeo is 130 years old and to honor that major milestone, Prescott Frontier Days, Inc. celebrates the many rodeo legends that have lived among us, or still do today. The idea behind the theme for the rodeo this year “Legends Live Among Us” is to recognize the many talented and accomplished rodeo legends that either started their rodeo career in Prescott, or called Prescott home. Prescott is home to many accomplished professional cowboys and cowgirls, so the opportunity seemed appropriate and timely to honor that piece of indisputable history.

Here are some rodeo legends that either grew up in Prescott, live here today or had a rodeo career begin at the World’s Oldest Rodeo (and are the faces you see on the current advertising outlets): JC Trujillo: 1981 World-Champion Bareback Rider, Inducted into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in 1994 and the General Manager of Prescott Frontier Days, hometown Prescott; Mike Stuart 1926 World-Champion Bronc Rider, Inducted into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in 1979, hometown Prescott; George Richards, 1978 World-Champion Team Roper, hometown Dewey,; Brad Smith, 1978 World-Champion Team Roper, hometown Prescott; Chuck Sheppard, World-Champion Team Roper 1946, Inducted into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2000, hometown Prescott; and Asbury Schell 1937, 1939 & 1952 World Champion, Inducted into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2004, hometown Cottonwood.

The World’s Oldest Rodeo is known as one of the top 40 best rodeos in the United States and is a favorite among contestants. The nostalgic and historic atmosphere draws top athletes every year in the sport of professional rodeo. Good events are only as good as the people who run it and the World’s Oldest Rodeo brings the most talented and notable contract personnel in the sport of rodeo. Randy Corley, inductee (2017) into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame, has been the rodeo announcer for over 25 years and the late Harry Vold of the Harry Vold Rodeo Company (stock contractor) are just a few great examples of the type of quality this Rodeo offers.

There are eight performances of world-class rodeo, a rodeo parade (that typically draws over 45,000 people to downtown Prescott), a rodeo dance, arts and crafts show around the Courthouse Plaza, cowboy church, a kiddie parade and Prescott’s most anticipated event of the year!

With the excitement that comes with being 130 years old, it seems totally appropriate to rally around the many dedicated, loyal and wonderful supporters of the World’s Oldest Rodeo by offering a way to be involved with their stories, photos and experiences with this amazing event.

For the first time ever, many contests and prizes are offered now through June 16 through Facebook (Facebook.com/worldsoldestrodeo), Instagram (Instagram.com/worldsoldestrodeo), the mobile app (Rodeo1888) on iTunes and Google Play and at www.worldsoldestrodeo.com . Tickets and information are available on the website or by calling the ticket hotline at 928-445-4320. See you at the R-O-D-E-O! QCBN

By Donna Werking