Pendleton Round-Up

Pendleton
Round-Up

location in northeastern Oregon

The Pendleton Round-Up at the Pendleton Round-Up Stadium is a major annual rodeo in Pendleton, Oregon, United States. Held during the second full week of September each year since 1910, the rodeo brings roughly 50,000 people every year to the city of Pendleton. The Pendleton Round-Up is a member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA).

The Round-Up was incorporated as a non-profit organization July 29, 1910, as the "Northwestern Frontier Exhibition Association." The rodeo was primarily a creation of local ranchers led by Herman Rosenberg.

File:Bonnie-McCarroll-thrown-fro.jpg

A 1915 photograph by Walter S. Bowman of Bonnie McCarroll being thrown from a horse named Silver at the Pendleton Round-Up (The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame)

Bronc rider Bonnie McCarroll (1897–1929) died in a rodeo accident at Pendleton. The PRCA, formed in 1936, initially scheduled no events for women as a result of her death.

Events

There are ten events in which cowboys (and girls in Barrel Racing) from all over the United States and Canada compete:

Bareback riding Saddle bronc riding Calf roping Team roping Steer wrestling

Barrel racing Steer roping Brahma bull riding Indian relay races Wild cow milking

Round-Up week

Every Round-Up week begins with the Dress Up Parade, on the Saturday before the rodeo, in which different groups throughout Eastern Oregon, including Boy and Girl Scouts, Pendleton High School Band, the Children's Rodeo, and many local businesses, build floats and compete for 1st place.

File:Indian dancers - Pendleton Oregon roundup - 1911.jpg

"Indian War Dancers" at the 1911 Round-Up

Friday of Round-Up week is the Westward Ho! parade, in which every entrant must be in a non-motorized vehicle, most of which are authentic covered wagons and horse-drawn buggies, though some choose to ride horseback or walk.

The Monday and Tuesday before the rodeo begins the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) come and compete in the Happy Canyon Arena.

Wednesday is when both Round-Up and Happy Canyon begin.

Grand entry

Part of the 2004 Grand Entry parade

The rodeo starts with an extreme run in on horseback of flag bearers; the Flag of the United States, the Flag of Oregon, the Flag of Canada, and the flag of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, then the Round-Up Queen and her court run in on their horses at full speed, make two jumps and stop just before the fence in front of the south grandstand.

Personnel

The current announcer of the Pendleton Round-Up is Wayne Brooks, while the bullfighters are Aaron Ferguson, and Donnie Griggs.

Grand Final Review

x230px

Panorama of the Grand Final Review at the 1911 Round-Up

See also

• Pendleton Round-Up and Happy Canyon Hall of Fame

References

• Native, a 1990's New York City rock band, recorded a song titled "Pendleton Roundup" about the event, which appeared in the band's 1999 album "Exhale on Spring Street". http://nativenyc.bandcamp.com/track/pendleton-roundup

External links

File:Pendleton Round-Up (Pendleton, Oregon).jpg

• The Pendleton Round-Up
• History of the Pendleton Round-Up
• Audio slideshow of a 97-year-old ex-Pendleton rodeo clown
• Happy Canyon an Indian Pageant that is part of the Roundup
• "Oh you round up let 'er buck" Official song of the 1912 Round Up - Sheet music and photographs