June 2019 14 The first formalized “cowboy tournament" was born on July 4, 1888, in Prescott, Arizona. These “cowboy contests" in Prescott would continue until 1924 when the word, “rodeo" would replace cowboy contest/ cowboy tournament. Others had changed to rodeo, Spanish for roundup in 1916 but let’s go back, way back to where it all really began. On November 27, 1493, the first Spanish longhorn stepped onto the beach at Hispanolia in the new world. The arrival of cattle and horses signaled a sea of change that would sweep across north and south America, and lead directly to the American cowboy. On June 16, 1529, in Mexico City, the first cattlemen’s board, called Mesta, was incorporated. Mesta's duties was the settlement of disputes over whose cattle and horses were allowed to roam and where. The law required a spring and fall roundup. The law further required each rancher to have a unique brand and register it in a brand book kept in Mexico City. These rules for the spring and fall roundups became the model for those conducted by the Americans three centuries later. Nowhere else in the world had such cattlemen's rules been established, mandated and legally enforced by a country’s governing body. The branding mandate led to the vaquero developing the art of roping, the most efficient method for capturing, subduing and branding wild cattle in the wide open. Both the art of roping an animal from horseback, and the saddle horn as cowboy gear are unique to the vaquero culture and both were passed on to the American cowboy in the 1800’s. This historical background is from an article in True West magazine, The Case for Mexico by Lee Anderson, Dec. 2013. By Bob Roloff, “The Arizona Duuude” You can follow Bob Roloff on Facebook. THE ARIZONA DUUUDE Prescott’s early rodeos were appealing to the local cowboys and ranchers because it gave them the chance to bring their ranch- bred skills to town for people to see. There were no fancy rodeo arenas back in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Prescott's rodeo arena was an open field called Forbing Park, off of what is today Iron Springs Road. It was only roped off to keep the broncs from running away after they had unseated their riders. In the early 1940’s a group of locals called the 20-30 Club decided to lend a hand to help produce Prescott's rodeo. The 20-30 Club, composed of young men 20 to 30 years of age, was led by local historian Lester “Budge" Ruffner. These men promoted the “working cowboy” concept of rodeo and any professional cowboy was banned from 1941 to 1946. World War II took many men and contestants from the rodeo ranks but with the help of local ranchers and volunteer workers the show went on. During the late 40’s and 50’s, Prescott saw the rodeo tradition grow with the help of die-hard supporters such as Gordon Koch, Danny Freeman, Fred Schemmer, and Andy Jaurequi. The rodeo also grew as a spectator and contestant sport, with purses exceeding $20,000 which was a large sum in those days. In 1968 the Prescott Jaycees would take control, and make many changes. No longer could the local rancher provide enough calves, steers, and broncs to fulfill the needs of the larger number of cowboys coming to Prescott. The Jaycees would hire stock contractor Harry Vold in 1972. Vold continues to furnish some of the best stock available today, attracting top cowboys to compete on his stock. That same year, the Hollywood movie, Junior Bonner with Steve McQueen would be released. It was filmed entirely in and around Prescott during Frontier Days®, using actual parade and rodeo footage. This would thrust the Prescott Rodeo into the national and world-wide spotlight. Some of this information is from The World’s Oldest Rodeo by Jim Anderson and Danny Freeman. In 2004, hearing that the Prescott Frontier Days Inc. World’s Oldest Rodeo® was looking for a new general manager, J. C. Trujillo sent them his resume and was hired by the board of directors. What a perfect fit for this job. James Charles Trujillo was born May 10, 1948, and began his rodeo career at the age of six, in his hometown of Prescott, Arizona riding a calf in the junior rodeo all the way to the far end of the arena and winning $10.80. That was the beginning of a long rodeo career. Trujillo joined the PRCA in 1967 and hit the pro circuit in 1972, going on to qualify for 12 National Finals Rodeos. He is famous for his realistic ever-positive attitude and a big smile. He is known as one of rodeo's most magnetic personalities and a great spokesman for the sport. J.C. Trujillo and his crew of over 600 volunteers will make sure that the seven days of the World’s Oldest Rodeo® will be an exciting and safe event for contestants and fans alike. Volunteers are at the heart of this undertaking, for without them, it would not be possible. Randy Corley is a professional rodeo announcer who is one of the best in the business. He has been the voice of Prescott Frontier Days Inc. World’s Oldest Rodeo® for the past 33 years. Randy brings excitement, knowledge, and enthusiasm to the arena during each rodeo performance. Originally a bareback riding and bull riding contestant, Corley started making radio commercials, then went to broadcasting school with the idea of becoming a rodeo announcer. The late Hadley Barrett, a Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame announcer and Corley’s father-in-law heard him in North Platt, Nebraska, and invited him to apply for his PRCA card, which he did in 1980. It is an honor to have him each year at the World’s Oldest Rodeo®, and if you get a chance, please congratulate him on his Hall of Fame induction. There is far, far too much information online and what I have gathered from interviews to compress into one page. Besides the history of the rodeo, each and every one of the contestants has a story that could fill a book. Look up some of these people and read their biography if there is one. They all have a story to tell. If you’d like more information go to worldsoldestrodeo.com or prorodeo.com. From Vaqueros to Cowboys, to The World’s Oldest Rodeo J.C. Trujillo began his rodeo career at the age of six, in his hometown of Prescott, which was the beginning of a long rodeo career. Randy Corley has been the voice of Prescott Frontier Days Inc. World’s Oldest Rodeo for the past 33 years. ®