Pendleton Round-Up

The Pendleton Round-Up is a rodeo held in Pendleton, Oregon, United States, 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. [cite web | first = Joseph B. | last = Frazier | title = The buckaroos stop here | publisher = San Diego Union-Tribune |date= September 12, 2004 | url = http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20040912/news_mz1t12roundu.html | accessdate = 2006-12-02] 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." [cite web | title = The History of the Pendleton Roundup | publisher = Pendleton Round-Up | url = http://www.pendletonroundup.com/pages/history.shtml | accessdate = 2006-11-02] The rodeo was primarily a creation of local ranchers led by Herman Rosenberg.

Events

There are 10 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, the Children's Rodeo, and many local businesses, build floats and compete for 1st place.

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.

Next 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

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 Joe Baumgartner, Lloyd Ketchum, and Keith Isley all with numerous accolades.

References

External links

* [http://www.pendletonroundup.com/ The Pendleton Round-Up]
* [http://www.pendletonroundup.com/pages/history.shtml History of the Pendleton Round-Up]
* [http://www.commonties.com/blog/2006/09/26/clowning-around-at-the-roundup/ Audio slideshow of a 97 year-old ex-Pendleton rodeo clown]
* [http://www.happycanyon.com Happy Canyon] an Indian Pageant that is part of the Roundup