Cowboy Ted announces his Top-10 list of rodeos in the Intermountain West
The summer rodeo season is upon us and longtime radio/rodeo
personality Cowboy Ted has issued his annual top-10 list of rodeos in the Intermountain West. CT has hosted rodeo reports for radio stations in California, Missouri, Utah and Wyoming.
The veteran rodeo journalist has been to all the local rodeos and has chosen his personal Top-10 List of the Best Rodeos in the Intermountain West. Read on and see if you agree with Cowboy Ted. Exact dates and times along with phone numbers for ticket information is available online at www.cowboyted.com and click on the Utah Rodeo schedule section.
Topping the list this year is the Oakley 4th of July Rodeo, which is a sellout each year and is held in a great old-time rodeo arena in a beautiful mountain setting. The rodeo is great for family fun and features top prize money along with the best cowboys and cowgirls in the nation. Fred Whitfield is always a fan favorite and a regular at Oakley. The famous Independence Day event overtakes Strawberry Days this year as my number one choice after finally allowing rock music during the bull riding (Gotta' have rock tunes for the bulls). The rodeo burgers are excellent and prices are very affordable along with great fireworks and dance. Oakley is very small, but beautiful and easy to get to from the Kamas exit off of I-80 just east of Park City.
The Strawberry Days Rodeo in Pleasant Grove is one of my favorite rodeos because it opens the summer rodeo season in a beautiful open-air arena, which welcomes families to enjoy the rodeo. Each year the rodeo features great bucking stock and top notch cowboys. Many of the NFR qualifiers begin their season at Strawberry Days. And true to their name - they have the best Strawberries & Cream in the concession stands. Easy to get to from I-15 and Pleasant Grove exit about 30 minutes from Salt Lake City.
Fiesta Days in Spanish Fork is a great rodeo and there isn't a bad seat in the house. I love the old arena style seating in this historic arena. The rodeo also features some of the top entertainment in the area, including the trailer race (horse trailers in arena and folks have to unload saddle up and race and reload in the trailer to win) The fans love it. The top cowboys stop off in Spanish Fork during the busy Pioneer Days weekend with three PRCA rodeos (Days of 47 and Ogden Pioneer Days) within an hours drive of the other. Great Rodeo burgers - the glow in the dark items add to fireworks show after the lights go out. Spanish Fork is a beautiful town & easy to get to on Main Street just east of I-15 about an hour from Salt Lake.
Preston Idaho knows how to put on a big-time Rodeo with lots of small town hospitality. Preston Nights rodeo has a long-standing tradition as being one of the top rodeos in the area, while holding true to old time rodeo values. The traditional arena seating make every seat in the house a great seat to watch rodeo. Expect to see the top cowboys in the business at Preston and you will be entertained "cowboy style" for a full two hours and not a minute over two hours. Preston is a "real cowboy town" and easy to find off of I-15 or take the scenic route as you keep driving north from downtown Logan, Utah and just follow the signs to Preston, Idaho.
Ogden Pioneer Days boasts one of the largest and most authentic old-time outdoor rodeo arenas in Utah. Watch rodeo under the stars and not far from the mountains as the backdrop. Reserved seating is available right above the chutes. They also host the Miss Rodeo Utah Pageant and usually hire top announcers to bring you the action from a cowboy's perspective. Top hands from the PRCA always stop in Ogden during Pioneer Days weekend (along with the Days of 47 and Fiesta Days). Ogden also hosts one of the most fun mutton bustin' contests for the kids and a mechanical bull for the fans to test their own cowboy skills. Cotton Rosser & crew put on a great show with plenty of extras for the fans. Take I-15 to Ave 12 exit in Ogden and go east to Washington Blvd. then south and follow the signs to rodeo.
Cowboy Days in Evanston, Wyoming is one of the best rodeos in the area. The annual Cowboy days Rodeo takes place on Labor Day weekend and is a part from day one through the weekend. The rodeo grounds are comfortable and spacious in an open air setting. Fans will enjoy seeing the top cowboys in the nation at one of the final events of the season as cowboys make the final push for a trip to NFR. Don Pedros Mexican restaurant is right across the street from the rodeo grounds and features the best Mexican food this side of California. Evanston is also home to some of the top fireworks outlets in the West. Take I-80 east from Salt Lakeand take Harrison Blvd. exit and go toward downtown - left just past the historic train station.
The Utah State Fair also boasts one of the top rodeos in the state.
Top cowboys and cowgirls from the PRCA stop off for one last chance to earn money to qualify for the NFR in December. The Utah State Fair also hosts the ONLY Sunday Rodeo in the state of Utah and it's a sellout every year. The Grand entry is just long enough to impress the crowd with wagons and carriages carrying featured guests. The Utah Jazz Bear mascot has been known to enter the bull riding at this rodeo. One of the best Mutton Bustin' shows in Utah with top prizes for all the kids and great family entertainment. Take your pick of great fair food on the midway and the concerts are right beyond the grand stands. Utah State Fairpark is easy to find on North Temple.
Francis Frontier Days Rodeo is the only non-PRCA rodeo to make the Cowboy Ted Top-10. This little town knows how to put on a rodeo. It reminds you of the old backyard-style rodeos of the 70's - not a lot of bells & whistles, but pure rodeo action with hometown attitude and small town charm. They host a Battle of the Bulls each year. They also serve breakfast each day and events for the kids including a Jr. Rodeo and end the weekend with a big bull riding event on Labor Day. Breakfast is to die for - served the old fashioned way and as tasty as grandma used to make. Not too hard to find - Francis is on SR 32 just a mile south of Kamas. Take I-80 east to Heber/Denver exit and go toward Kamas and then head south to Francis.
The Golden Spike Rodeo in Tremonton is good old-time rodeo fun in a small town with a great arena and very friendly people. Tremonton also has a Bull Riding event each year, in conjunction with their Fair and Rodeo. Top hands join leaders from the Wilderness Circuit to make for a very competitive rodeo in a nice open-air arena at the cool & breezy tip of Utah - entertainment along with celebrity announcers and not too far from Pocatello, Idaho. The committee is well-organized and performances run on time. The locals will pack the stands, but out of towners are made to feel very welcome. Easy to find as you take the Tremonton loop off of I-15. Take a break & cool off with comfortable temperatures in Tremonton - Rodeo burgers could be best ever.
Rounding out the top-10 is The Days of 47 at the Delta Center. Days of 47 was one of the top-15 PRCA rodeos in the nation for a number of years and is held the week of July 24th. This is still the best indoor rodeo in the Intermountain West - (I ranked it lower because I don't really like indoor rodeos) The top hands from the PRCA stop by the Delta Center each year. Expect this show to run a little long (2 1/2 hours on the average) Days of 47 will host the only PRCA Extreme Bull Tour event in Utah. Arena records are broken yearly by famous cowboys and cowgirls. Delta Center is easy to find from I-15 and there is No Rain.
Cowboy Ted's Top-10:
- Oakley 4th of July Rodeo ~ Oakley, Utah ~ July 3-5
- Strawberry Days ~ Pleasant Grove ~ June 19-21
- Fiesta Days ~ Spanish Fork, Utah ~ July 19-24
- Preston Nights Rodeo ~ Preston, Idaho ~ August 1-3
- Ogden Pioneer Days ~ Ogden, Utah ~ July 19-24
- Cowboy Days ~ Evanston, Wyoming ~ Labor Day Weekend
- Utah State Fair & Rodeo ~ Salt Lake City ~ September 4-7
- Francis Frontier Days ~ Francis ~ Labor Day weekend
- Golden Spike Rodeo ~ Tremonton ~ August 21-23
- The Days of 47 ~ Salt Lake City ~ July 18-24