Eighth of Ten Top Rodeos

PRCA Top 8/10

California Rodeo Salinas – Salinas, Cal

In 1872 the Monterey County Agricultural Association constructed a race track, grandstand, stables, bar and restaurant on 69.4 acres donated to the City of Salinas by Eugene Sherwood and Richard Hellman of San Francisco. Here a few races were held but over time that come to an end. On the verge of losing the facilities a bronc riding was held which later, with a lot of hard work and many hours, turned into what today is known as the California Rodeo Salinas. Over Today, the California Rodeo Salinas is the largest and most popular rodeo in California. It is one of ten rodeos shown on Fox Sports Network, ESPN, and the Outdoor Living Network each year. Its popularity increased as more people watched, and today, 40 million people watch the action from their homes. Celebrate 100 Years of Tradition as the annual California Rodeo Salinas kicks off on Thursday July 15th. The best cowboys and cowgirls will keep the arena busy as they compete for big prize money and coveted gold buckles. The week will start off with a Professional Bull Riding followed by four days of thrills and spills along with rodeo action. Action will be up close on the Toyota Tundra Instant Replay Screen during the 4 day show featuring bull riding, trick riding, clowns, the One Arm Bandit and more. Here at Salinas it is all about the long scores and hard running cattle. This is the only rodeo where your header and heeler come out of the same box.

Other rodeo activities to enjoy over the four day show are the Salinas and Monterey Chamber Mixer to kick off the Biggest BIG Week ever, Monster Truck Jam featuring some of the biggest mud-slinging trucks ever.

The annual dinner dance, Spurs and Stilettos: 2010 Centennial Gala. Cowboys Cabaret consisting of poetry and wine tasting featuring poet Baxter Black and Dave Stamey opening with acoustic guitar.
Kiddie Kapers Parade to be followed by the Colmo Del Rodeo Parade which will grace the streets of Old Town Salinas and commemorate what was once the greatest parade of the West!

Accommodations are easy to find as Salinas has over 25 different hotels and inns some in the newer part of Salinas and some located in Old Town Salinas.

The official website of the California Rodeo Salinas is - http://carodeo.com/

CPRA Top 8/10

Dawson Creek Agricultural Fair, Rodeo & Exhibition– Dawson Creek, BC

It was said the west was wild and the north would never be tamed. Up in the northern part of British Columbia is a place called Dawson Creek. Here the two come together in a spectacular event know as the Dawson Creek Agricultural Fair, Rodeo and Exhibition. It is the wildest, the craziest and fun filled weekend you could ever imagine. With 36 World Professional Chuckwagons and 16 Western Chuckwagons running daily heats at the event this weekend gets pretty exciting. Also, the rodeo is a Canadian Tour Rodeo and co-approved by the PRCA so a lot of your top Canadian and American cowboys are going to be entered and competing here. Now that is not something you do not get to see every day. An event featured at this rodeo is wild horse racing where a three man team tries to saddle and ride an untamed horse around the arena and across a line. This event is brought to you by the Canadian Wild Horse Racing Association. Alongside this is the Kids Wild Horse Racing where the younger generation has a three person team and gets on ponies trying to ride the longest. This always is a fan favourite and brings a roar from the crowd. During intermission there will be contract acts form trick riders and ropers to horseback drill teams.

Later on after the dust settles and the cowboys are back on the trail to the next rodeo, the festivities will still not be over. Nightly there is live entertainment and a cabaret, so you can dance, drink and socialize late into the night. Every evening once it gets dark fireworks will be set off for young and old to enjoy. Also, on the grounds is the great Westcoast Amusements with their Ferris wheels, Skytron, Salt and Pepper Shaker, Haunted House and other rides and games for the kids to enjoy. Along with the rodeo is the largest Agricultural Fair to date in the Peace Region. Here there are different categories and divisions to be watched and judged. Some divisions include Handicrafts Division, Heavy Horse Division, Light Horse Division, Home Arts Division, Horticulture Division, Photography Division and Grain and Forage Crops Division. Here the locals bring homemade baked goods, furniture and a friendly smile.

For accommodations while you are stating in Dawson Creek there are three RV parks that have very reasonable rates. Along with nine different hotels and inns to call home for the weekend. Location and Numbers can be found on this website - http://tourismdawsoncreek.co/accomodations.php





The official website of the Agricultural Fair, Rodeo & Exhibition is - http://www.dawsoncreekfair.com/

Nineth of Ten Top Rodeos

PRCA Top 9/10

Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo – Fort Worth, TX

Fort Worth is filled with a unique mix of attractions for visitors — from cowboys to culture, from sports to shopping, the world-class Cultural District, downtown’s dazzling Sundance Square, the top-ranked Fort Worth Zoo, and the Texas Motor Speedway. But best of all Fort Worth is home to the legendary Stockyards and the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. Here you can kick up your heels and enjoy acres of excitement and western heritage. Including pulse-pounding rodeo action. Free musical entertainment. Family-friendly exhibits and shopping. The huge Stock Show Midway. Premier livestock shows. And that’s just the beginning.

This year the stock show and rodeo is from January 15 to February 7, 2010, kicking off with the downtown – All Western Parade on 16th at 11:00 a.m. Followed by the AQHA Best of the Remuda Sale in the Justin Arena and the Premier Texas Longhorn Sale in the West Arena. During the three weeks of the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo you will be able to see and partake in some events from Cowboy Church services, Horsemanship clinics, AQHA and Paint horse shows, and Dairy and Boer goat shows. Then the rodeo starts off with a PRCA Extreme Bull Riding on the night of 19th with tie-down roping slack in the morning. The World’s Original Indoor Rodeo then begins its evening performance’s nightly on the 22nd at the Coliseum and tops off on the final day of the 7th. For a full schedule of daily events go to http://www.fwssr.com/?page_id=28

While attending the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo we hope you're hungry, because Fort Worth serves up a multitude of delicious choices for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The city is famous for its great steakhouses, barbecue, and Texas cuisine. You’ll also find fabulous restaurants preparing Mexican, Italian, French, Greek, Thai, Pacific Rim, and Southwestern selections. After a great day at the stock show and rodeo and a hearty meal you can stay at one of the 79 hotels and inns. With 8 on the west side, 5 around university, 4 at the stockyards, 22 on the northside of fort worth, 15 in the Hulen/ South district, 11 downtown, 4 by the DFW airport, and 3 in the Alliance area. Or you can stay at one of nine RV parks located in and around Fort Worth.
The official website of the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo is - http://www.fwssr.com/

CPRA Top 9/10

Airdrie Pro Rodeo – Airdrie, AB

Driving down the Queen Elizabeth 2 a highway running north and south through central Alberta you will find a little ole place called Airdrie. It just a short distance from the big city of Calgary and home to thousands of commuters that work there. Nestled in the rolling grassy hills with a view of the Rocky Mountains it is beautiful country and home to the Airdrie Pro Rodeo that happens once a year during “Cowboy Christmas”. A time when rodeo cowboys are headed down the trail going to many, two or three a day even, rodeos north and south of the Canadian/ States border. This year was the 42nd year of the Airdrie Pro rodeo! With over $128,000 in prize money many of the top contestants in the world including many world champions will be here competing. Airdrie is the 9th largest professional rodeo in Canada out of 56 rodeos. It all started back in 1967 when they were an "FCA" event - Foothills Cowboy Association and since 1994 the rodeo has been a professional event. In 2008 they became the newest stop on the Wrangler Canadian Rodeo Tour - a high profile, high excitement, talent-driven tour. Airdrie is a dual approved with the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association (CPRA) as well as with the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA).

There is the usual events of Bareback Riding, Bull Riding, Tie Down Roping, Ladies Barrel Racing, Saddlebronc, Steer Wrestling, Team Roping, and Boy's Steer Riding. Along with a Ranch Hand Competition, this is an amateur event with 15 teams of 4 members each competing in the following 5 events: Cattle Penning, Cattle Doctoring, Cattle Sorting, Cattle Loading, and Branding. There is also a Junior Rodeo with Mutton Bustin, Pee Wee Barrel Racing, Calf Scramble, Wild Pony Races, and Junior Barrel Racing. Along with the rodeo there is a Western Trade Fair, dances nightly with a different live band every night, with fireworks to follow, and a carnival and treasure box (sandbox with coins buried in it).

For your convenience there are six different food venders on site with every treat and meat you could imagine. If none of these seem to fill your stomach or you would like to sit down with the family to an enjoyable meal. Just five minutes down the road there are twenty different restaurants ranging from Chinese Cuisine to Dairy Queen or A&W. After a full day of rodeo entertainment there is six different hotels to kick back and relax at. Or camping is allowed on the grounds at no charge; however hook ups are not available. So come on down with the family and enjoy a week full of performances and live entertainment.

The official website of the Airdrie Pro Rodeo is - http://www.airdrieprorodeo.net/

Tenth of Ten Top Rodeos

PRCA Top 10/10

San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo – San Antonio, TX

In 1854, in an emerging Texas cattle town, history was made when one of the first ever Texas Agricultural Fairs was held in San Antonio. In the following years, many other fairs and expositions came to San Antonio and have been held in the Joe and Harry Freeman Coliseum. Over the years the stock show and rodeo have worked their way up to being in the top ten rodeos in America. The show is in February and starts on the first weekend and finishes on the third weekend of February. The rodeo consists of day to day competition, then two sets of semi-finals, followed by a wild card final, and finally well the finals of the two week event.

Alongside the rodeo is the stock show that has just about every farm animal imaginable up for judging. From goats and pigs to horses and cattle. With the winner and high seller of these classes taking home a good pocketful of change and maybe even a scholarship or two. Along with the stock show is the trade show that has been located in the Joe and Harry Freeman Coliseum since the rodeo was moved into the AT&T Center. Here you can find custom works for sale done by painters, sculptures, leather workers, bit and spur makers and delicious treats made by many homemakers.

While staying in San Antonio for the stock show and rodeo you could also go to Museo Alameda museum, a Smithsonian Institute affiliate, Sea World, Six Flags, the San Antonio Zoo, or go for a walk on the San Antonio River Walk. You could shopping at one of the indoor or outdoor malls, antique and souvenir shops or go barter at one of the many flea markets. While doing all this you will work up quite an appetite but luckily there are many eateries from Greek, Tex Mex, Asian, Mexican restaurants, to BBQ houses and steak houses to sit down at and enjoy a wonderful meal. After a hard day at the stock show and rodeo or out for a day in the city you can stay at one of the 265 hotels and inns or since there is no camping on the show grounds you could stay at one of five campgrounds.

The official website of the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo is - http://www.sarodeo.com/

CPRA Top 10/10

Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede – Medicine Hat, AB

The wide open spaces and clear blue skies of southern Alberta are the canvas for the natural beauty of our city. Located in the scenic South Saskatchewan River Valley, Medicine Hat has more hours of sunshine than any another Canadian community (2,512 hours per year!) making us “Canada’s Sunniest City”, and home to Canada’s tenth top rodeo. This rodeo is held on the fourth weekend of July at the Medicine Hat Exhibition Grounds. Along with this rodeo, “The Hat” as it is referred to, also hosts the Broncs & Honky Tonks Rodeo the third weekend in April. The stampede consists of three performances and two morning slacks. Along with the entertainment of the rodeo a carnival with rides and games is located on the premises by West Coast Entertainment Inc.

While at the stampede while you are sitting around waiting for the next performance, there are many activities and events you can take part in. Like you will find over 100 parks and 90 kilometres of walking trails throughout the city, as well as seven golf courses, a 20-storey high Saamis Tepee, southeast Alberta’s largest shopping mall, and casino. Other world-famous tourist attractions, such as Dinosaur Provincial Park, Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, Writing-On-Stone Provincial Park & the Royal Tyrell Museum of Palaeontology are just a short drive away.

Medicine Hat offers over 100 superb dining choices to fill your appetite. Choose everything from fast food to fun pubs and family feasting to fine dining. Cozy coffee houses, bistros, cafes and patio restaurants add to the mix. There is camping allowed on the exhibition grounds but is limited. However there are five other RV parks located in Medicine Hat along with four Bed and Breakfasts and over twenty-one hotels and inns.

The official website of the Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede is - http://www.mhstampede.com/