August 2018 28 August 2018 PAYSON HOME OF THE WORLD’S OLDEST CONTINUOUS RODEO Payson Pro Rodeo AUGUST 16th, 17th & 18th Our first destination on our WELCOME TO PAYSON, the home of the World’s Oldest Continuous Rodeo. Each year, we organize, promote and stage the Gary Hardt Memorial Rodeo and the World’s Oldest Continuous Rodeo. For over 135 years the sport of Rodeo has been alive and kicking in the Rim Country. Thousands flock to Payson each year to experience the strong rodeo heritage that lives here. We use the proceeds of the rodeos to support charitable organizations throughout the Rim Country. We rely heavily on the hard work of our volunteers, the generous support of our sponsors, the talents of our participants, and the patronage of our rodeo fans throughout the country. HISTORY Organizers of the first Payson Rodeo were Abraham Henson Meadows; know later as “Arizona Charlie” Meadows (1860-1962), who moved to the Rim Country with his parents from California in 1877 and young John Collins Chilson (1867-1924) who also moved to this area from California in 1879. The word passed along from ranch to ranch and on the third weekend of August in 1884, Cowboys participated in the first Payson Rodeo. This first rodeo was held in Mid-Town Pasture, a little southwest of the intersection of Highway 87 and Old Main, now the site of Sawmill Crossing. A few ranchers and Cowboys gathered to see how their roping and riding abilities and the speed of their horses compared to those of their neighbors’. Horse racing, bronc riding, and the ranch-born roping events, along with a little silver dollar pitching, dominated the early agenda. Other events were soon added. Cockfights, greased pig contests, sack races, and foot races also became part of the celebration. The Cowboys also had what they called a “chicken pulling” contest. The fowl was buried in the street with only its head and neck sticking out, a rider would thunder by at a full gallop, lean down and jerk the unfortunate bird flopping from the dirt, then return to the starting point to await his time. There were no chutes in those early days. The broncs were lead or dragged to the middle of the street and geared down by a couple of cowboys. Someone cinched a rig onto the horse’s back and a twister (bronc rider) stepped onboard. This was not a timed event until later years. The horse was ridden until his head came up – or the rider was thrown. Twisters usually brought their own broncs to those first rodeos. They would ride the broncs of other competitors, as well as their own so that everyone got a fair shake. During the street rodeos of the early 1920s, those bronc riders began testing their skills on the local white face and Durham cattle. There was no Brahma stock at the Payson Rodeo until 1950 when Rodeo stock contractors began hauling them to Payson. Anything that could buck was fair game: wild steers, cows, bulls, bareback horses. Some enterprising Cowboys even tried pulling their saddles off horses and putting them on bulls. Screwing the saddle onto the back of the bull sometimes furnished considerable more entertainment than the ensuing ride afterward. This practice did not last because the saddles would turn on the loose-skinned bulls. YOUTH MUTTON BUSTIN Registration is open for mutton & steer bustin' at the World's Oldest Continuous Rodeo for Thursday, Friday and Saturday performances. The best way to do that is to go to Chapman Auto Center at 100 N. Beeline Highway during business hours. The phone number is 928-474-5261. Hours are Monday through Friday 8-6, Saturday 8-5. Cost is $20 for mutton busters, ages 4 to 7. Steer riders are $35 ages 8 to 13. Slots fill up fast, so sign up today! SEE THEIR AD ON PAGE 42 AND FULL SCHEDULE AT PAYSONPRORODEO.COM