WELCOME RODEO FANS TO THE
Prescott Frontier Days
The first formalized "Cowboy Tournament" ever held was in Prescott, Arizona on July 4, 1888. These "Cowboy Contests" continued and were planned, promoted, and carried out by a committee of local merchants.
The name, Prescott Frontier Days, a committee of the Yavapai County Fair Association, came into being in 1913, the year the July 4th celebration began on the Yavapai County Fairgrounds. "Rodeo" is a Spanish word meaning "to roundup", and the word "rodeo", for cowboy contests, wasn't used anywhere until 1916. It was not used in Prescott until 1924.
In the 1940's, the Prescott 20-30 Club, a group of merchants and professional men, handled the various 4th of July events, including the rodeo. In the 1970's, the Prescott Jaycees ran the celebration. The present organization, Prescott Frontier Days®, Inc., a non-profit corporation, was established in 1979. It has held forth since then with the main event being the "Worlds Oldest Rodeo®". This name was approved and registered by the U.S. Patent Office in 1985.
Since 1888 folks have come from miles around to see what the ruckus in Prescott, Arizona was all about.
Every year that ruckus gets bigger, the contestants more daring and bold. When the bulls, the horses, the clowns come to town...well, let's just say you'll want to see what's kicking up all that dust.
Without giving away the show, we can tell you it's about top athletes competing for big dollars. It's about broncos throwing their hooves any which way, bulls that are mad at the world, and leather straps holding cowboys together.
Events
Prescott Frontier Days is home to rodeo events like: bareback bronc riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, barrel racing and bull riding.
|