Improving an already good event is hard to do but Bristow’s experienced rodeo and Main Street (Route 66) planners did so during the 2 nd annual revitalized Western Heritage Days on Aug 19th-20th, pleasing over 4,500 people. While rodeo watchers enjoyed broncin’, ropin’, wrestlin’, and barrel racin’ on Friday and Saturday nights, attendees downtown applauded a parade with new participants and checked out a variety of merchandise and kid’s activity zones on Saturday.
The annual rodeo at the Sports Complex is hosted by the Round-Up Club, conducted by Big Horn Rodeo Company, and sanctioned by the American Cowboy Rodeo Association (ACRA) and International Professional Rodeo Association (IPRA). Consistency is a recipe for success for rodeos. Friday and Saturday night’s main competition events mirrored each other except “slack” (additional) contestants challenged each other on Friday night until 1:30 am on Saturday morning. Both evenings started with fun events: kids hung on to sheep (mutton bustin’) and the Commanding General’s Mounted Color Guard, consisting of active duty US Army soldiers from Fort Riley, KS, completed calvary drills by pole jumping in single files while flashing sabers or firing guns.
The main events followed: Bareback, Saddle Bronc, and Ranch Saddle Bronc horse riding; Steer Wrestling, Team Roping, Breakaway Roping, and Tie Down Roping of steer; and Barrel Racing and Bull Riding. Juniors (15 years and younger) and Peewees (eight years and younger) got their chance to ride around three barrels like adults did.
Sometimes lassos don’t catch calves. And riders fall off bucking horses and bulls. It happens. Practiced cowboys and cowgirls are trying to catch or ride untamed animals. The crowd cheered for those who tried and even louder for those who succeeded.
In between, two new acts caught people’s attention. Fifteen-year-old Cheridyn Bateman entertained the crowd with wild west show tricks that included riding on one side of her horse (Apache hideaway), hanging upside down (Cossack suicide drag) and standing on top of her white horse (liberty stand). Express Clydesdales,a team of six horses pulling a stage coach, rode around the arena.
On both nights, hundreds of kids ran after pigs, chickens and lambs in the “Barnyard Scramble” and on Saturday night, Round-Up Club royalty were announced.
Money from donors, merchants, attendees, and competitors goes to pay the Big Horn Rodeo Company, give prizes to competitors, and promote Bristow’s Round Up Club. Lisa Dobson, President of the Club said, “A hundred percent of the money made from the rodeo goes … to our [35] members of our Roundup Club…to buy awards for our end of the year banquet.” About $10,000 went for the banquet in 2021. If the rodeo looked good, it’s because It’s a lot of work to put on but the Round-Up Club is up to the task. They were named the best rodeo in the region for the past two years. “We’ve been blessed and its all come together and I’ve got a great team of people that are not only just the members, but on the board and our treasurer, secretary, vice president, and the whole club.
And we’ve all worked together and I think that its exciting,” Dobson added.
Downtown took center stage on Saturday. Cowboys herded Longhorn cattle – really! – on Main Street in front of hundreds of watchers to kick off the parade. They were followed by the Commanding General’s Mounted Color Guard, Grand Marshal T. Reid McCullough, Express Clydesdales, the Bristow and
See Heritage Days, Page 3 Gypsy Round Up Clubs, eight classic cars, Creek County 4H Club, and many more, 33 entries in all.
Afterwards, Sixth - Ninth Streets overflowed as downtown visitors listened to four music acts while looking over and buying a variety of merchandise, food and drinks, and services from 72 vendors. On the street, one could choose from Hylies Plant Paradise (Bristow), Johnson Creek Native American Specialties (Okemah), and Bruce Salley framed prints (Catoosa), among many. Regular stores opened as well, like B&D Cowboy Depot, Route 66 Nutrition, and Kemp’s Drug Store. The Historical Society and Museum were open too.
Kids migrated to several play zones. They bounced on inflatables, petted animals at Mary Sue’s Mobile Petting Zoo and Pony Rides (Haskell), rode carnival rides, and climbed a wall of rocks. Many met the world’s tallest cowboy, Andy Horton. Fun activities on a hot summer Saturday.
Kristin Weaver, Main Street Lead Planner, gave a midday update. “It was better than we could have ever dreamed of. We heard several locals say that this was the best turnout that they had ever seen in town. The parade waswonderful.”
Good marketing and new items increased attendance. In addition to the Longhorn cattle and the Commanding General’s Mounted Color Guard, Weaver’s planning team of Kira Varner, Susan Banks, Vicki Roth, and Machelle Willis added carnival rides and games, the Express Clydesdales, beer sales, and tents for shade.
Weaver appreciated 23 hometown donors who covered expenses.
“We just appreciate everybody coming to support us and we encourage them to let us know what they want us see in the future and what their favorite parts were.” She added, smiling, “And, we’re just about crazy enough to keep doing this.”