Last night was the Montrose County Fair and Rodeo. It is something I try to go to every year. It is part of the culture of our community. While I don’t affiliate as a cowgirl, it does remind me of the life my grandparents lived.
As I sat on the hard bleacher seat waiting for the rodeo to begin, my mind wandered as I wondered what life was like in both Rawlins, WY and Montrose, CO in the early 1900s. Both towns host a western agriculture heritage that is present today. Google informed me that they were fairly similar in size according to the 1900 census, with Montrose being closer to 4K, while Rawlins was about 2K. (Montrose now has a population of 21K and Rawlins is about 8K.
Then, I wondered where rodeos originated. According to The Smithsonian, it was the Mexican cowboys of the 1800s that first brought the sport to the USA. Many of the rodeo events and fashions of today come from these Mexican vaqueros.
When Texas was annexed in the mid 1800’s, this culture was absorbed into our own Wild West traditions. Later in the 1800s, we saw the development of wild west shows. The wild west shows eventually evolved into a rodeo association that would later become the professional rodeo association.
IDK exactly when Montrose County started it’s Fair and Rodeo. The County was established in 1883, so probably the late 1800’s. Carbon County was established in 1868. Carbon County has a lot of rodeo activity in various areas. Looks like fun – you could travel around the County and check out all these fun events. Here is another article on Wyoming Rodeo: Wyoming: Rodeos, Ranching and Rendezvous
I’ve heard that John Kelly Hartt did a little rodeo early in his career – I wondered last night what a rodeo was like in his life and times. I would love any old time rodeo buffs to share their stories!
PS – My favorites are the bronc riders – with or without saddle. As one who sits in the bleachers and takes photos, there is nothing like the photo capture of faces of the cowboys and horses. Do people really bend like that?
Pearl Lake State Park History 