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Home FUN

History Lives Here

June 16, 2020
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by Tricia Lewis 
Rodeo is an all-American sport. It is also Prescott’s most anticipated event of the year. With a history as rich as the World’s Oldest Rodeo®, it is truly the Prescott way of life. Hundreds of families and generations have competed, supported, attended and watched this all-American sport for the past 132 years. This year is no different — thankfully.
We are thankful for our rich history and try to preserve, celebrate and share those experiences with you, our rodeo family. Each year, Prescott Frontier Days®, Inc. takes a piece of that history and builds the rodeo theme around that concept. This year, our theme for the 133rd World’s Oldest Rodeo® and the Parade is “History Lives Here.” It is our goal and intention to share some stories and traditions and reflect on events that took place over the past 132 years that perhaps we still perform in today’s rodeo. Due to restrictions and/or new ways of doing things, some may not occur in our current rodeo performances but that doesn’t mean we don’t enjoy looking back on them and sharing with you.
It can be a bit confusing to learn and understand what events took place and when, so here are the dates of events that we like to reflect on for making the World’s Oldest Rodeo® what it is today (special thanks for Danny Freeman on the dates provided in his book, “World’s Oldest Rodeo®”).
In 1888 when this “cowboy tournament” first began, it consisted of saddle bronc riding, steer roping and cow horse racing events. Cow horse racing ended in 1940 but the other two events continued. In 1889, bull riding was introduced as an exhibition with riding steers, then in 1913 as a contest, and with bulls in 1925.
In 1913, rangeland relay races began and were run until 1940. Wild horse racing and steer wrestling, called bulldogging at first, debuted. Bareback riding began in 1914, calf roping was added in 1917, and both events still exist today. 
In 1919 team roping was introduced with bulls at first, then steers began to be roped in 1922 and sometimes range cows were used. In 1920, the all-around cowboy award was first presented. It is the prestigious title many want to clinch by winning the most money in all categories, which can include bucking and timed events. Additionally, the grand entry was first documented that same year and is a tradition that starts each rodeo performance. In 1936, wild-cow milking was a crowd favorite and ran until 1981. 
In 1937 the Golden Jubilee celebration was held, which highlighted the 50th year of rodeo in Prescott. That year also had the first outdoor rodeo held at night under lights. Rodeo royalty was introduced in 1939 and exists at most rodeos around the country to this day. Girls’ barrel racing began in 1959 and is a fan favorite for women. In 1979, Prescott Frontier Days® was incorporated and is proudly the host organization that puts on the World’s Oldest Rodeo®. In 1983, Prescott Frontier Days® was honored with rodeo committee of the year by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA), which included over 700 rodeos. 
Many of these events occurred over several years between 1913 and 1937 and started to put Prescott on the map for hosting the greatest celebration ever held in Arizona on the Fourth of July. In 1948 this rodeo became part of the Rodeo Cowboy Association (RFA), which later became the PRCA and still sanctions this rodeo today. 
Outside of the State Fair in Phoenix, nothing was as entertaining as “Prescott Frontier Day,” according to the Prescott Journal-Miner in 1913. That year, the prizes offered drew a large number of contestants, because $3,500 was a lot of money back then. The goal was to attract the expert riders from every section of the Southwest.
Photo: Prescott Frontier Days® Archives – 1960 Steer Wrestling

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OUT & ABOUT — Thank you to Karen Shaw for sending in these shots of Jerome and the San Francisco Peaks on a beautiful winter day! We publish reader photos in every issue of Prescott LIVING. Send in your best shots by email to photos@roxco.com. Photos should be taken by you, anywhere in the Greater Prescott area. Selected photos will appear in print and on our social media channels.#jeromeaz #prescott #northernaz #sanfranciscopeaks ... See MoreSee Less

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Arizona State Senator Ken Bennett will read a proclamation in memory of Dr. Billie Orr on Wednesday, Feb. 1st at 1:15 p.m. on the Senate floor. The session will be livestreamed at www.azleg.gov/liveproceedings. Here is the text of the proclamation. . . . Recognition In Memory of Dr. Billie OrrWHEREAS, Dr. Billie Orr served the citizens of Prescott on the City Council from 2015 until 2021 and during that time as mayor Pro Tempore from 2017 until 2020; andWHEREAS, she was a member and past President of the Republican Women of Prescott; andWHEREAS, Dr. Billie Orr Founded the Mayor’s Commission on Well-Being for the City of Prescott; andWHEREAS, Dr. Billie Orr served as City Council Liaison for several City Boards and Commissions during her tenure as Councilmember; and WHEREAS, she served as a Board Member of Arizona Town Hall, Prescott Western Heritage Foundation and Yavapai Big Brothers Big Sisters; andWHEREAS, Dr. Billie Orr was an active Rotarian, serving on Rotary Clubs in the Phoenix area and in Prescott; and WHEREAS, she was a big fan of pickleball and helped Prescott Build outdoor courts for its citizens; andWHEREAS, prior to her service in Prescott, Dr. Billie Orr was active in Arizona education for more than twenty-five years; and WHEREAS, Dr. Billie Orr served the citizens of Arizona as Arizona’s Associate Superintendent of Public Instruction; andWHEREAS, under her leadership, Arizona created state academic standards that were ranked among the best in the nation; andWHEREAS, in earlier years she taught in the Madison District in Phoenix and was the Principal of Kiva School in Scottsdale; andWHEREAS, Dr. Billie Orr was a dedicated and longtime public servant to the citizens of Arizona who brought a positive and caring aspect to her service, inspiring many who worked with her; andWHEREAS, Dr. Billie Orr will be greatly missed by her many friends in Prescott and throughout Arizona; andNOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, our heartfelt condolences and prayers go out to her husband Bob, their children and grandchildren and all family members.. . . ... See MoreSee Less

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