b"THE WORLDS OLDEST CONTINUOUS RODEO 138th PERFORMANCE P ayson, Arizona issanctions the event) and recently named the Officialeast from Green where rodeo began.Best Small-Town PRCA Rodeo in the West by True WestValley Park along Started in 1884 theMagazine it continues to attract the best of the best fromMain Street to Annual World's Oldestall over the world competing for substantial prize money. Sawmill Crossing.Continuous Rodeo is aAnnouncers world-famous event thatRodeo performances start at 7:00 p.m. Friday andalong the parade will celebrate its 138thSaturday and at 1:00 p.m. Saturday. Gates open two hoursroute will keep consecutive year in 2021before the performances. Friday is the Tough Enough toyou posted on the upcoming entries on August 20 and 21. Wear Pink night that helps fund dollars for local breastand provide music for your entertainment.Bring The first rodeos in Payson provided local ranchers andcancer support groups in conjunction with Wranglersyour mountain chair, water, and the kids, and enjoy cowhands a chance to get together and compare theirSusan B. Komen program. Saturday evening is thea great morning with some fabulous entertainment, roping and ranching skills during the annual downtimePatriot Performance that honors our returning, fallen,antique cars, clowns, horses, and help Rim Country before the big fall roundup. There were only a couple ofand wounded veterans, with a special tribute during thecelebrate The Worlds Oldest Continuous Rodeo.For events in those early rodeos, but it was not long beforerodeo. Tickets are available online at paysonprorodeo. parade applications, please go to the Chamber office cowboys from all over the state and beyond were showingcom. Admission (pre-sale) is $18 for adults, $16 foror rimcountrychamber.com.Applications are due by up to compete in new events like bronc busting, bullseniors 65+, $10 for kids 8-12, free for children 7 andAugust 1st.riding, and steer roping. under, as well as any active military. Tickets will also be available at the gate. Adding to the fun on Friday and Saturday nights you can Early Payson rodeos weren't held in fancy arenas. In fact,kick up your heels at the Payson Pro Rodeo after party the original venue was a meadow near the intersection ofThe rodeo festivities include the rodeo parade.It willand dance at the Payson Rodeo Grounds.The band will Main Street and Highway 87/The Beeline. Wagons andbe held on Saturday, August 21, starting at 9:00 a.m., onbegin playing at 9:00 p.m. each night, there is no cover later autos created barriers to line Main Street to form thehistoric Main Street. The parade is sponsored by the Rimcharge for rodeo ticket holders and families are welcome. arena. This years activities will feature everything fromCountry Kiwanis of Zane Gray Country.It will includeThe cover charge is only $5.00 if you did not attend the beautiful rodeo royalty to the Shriners participation inclowns, rodeo queens, and their courts, Paysons Highrodeo and all are welcome.the annual rodeo parade.School band, local floats, riders, first responder teams, and many other great entries from all over Arizona.JoinCome join the fun and experience the place where rodeo Named the country's Best Small Rodeo (according toin the fun when real cowboys and cowgirls strut theirbegan over 138 years ago in Payson, Arizonas Cool the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, whichstuff, along with floats, cars, tractors, team bands, andMountain Town! Information: 928-978-0694units of the El Zaribah Shriners. The parade will travel RODEOPAYSON, ARIZONA &HISTORY & RODEO TRADITIONSF rom a population of 42, Green Valley grew intoto visit, eat, gamble, race their horses, dance, and showTo learn more about Payson and our rodeo traditions Payson and in 1884 it became the home of rodeo.off their cowboy and cowgirl skills. From 1885 to 1926read Rodeo 101 by Jinx and Jayne Pyle. Much of the Today, the Worlds Oldest Continuous Rodeo.most of Paysons rodeos were held in the dirt on Maininformation here is from that book. If you cannot find a Payson was a remote settlement until the completion ofStreet. The celebration lasted several days. copy, check out the Historical Societys museum store in the Beeline Highway in 1958 and a well-kept secret intoGreen Valley Park on West Main Street.the 1950s. Prior to the Beeline in 1935 it took 12 hours toTodays Worlds Oldest Continuous Rodeo brings many get here from Phoenix via Bush Highway. visitors from the Valley and all over the world as farThe Payson Pro Rodeo Committee owns and produces away as Norway, Germany, France, and Australia.Thethe annual Worlds Oldest Continuous Rodeo as The first organizers for the Payson Rodeo wererodeo costs a pretty penny to produce; today to thewell as the spring rodeo, the Gary Hardt Memorial Charlie Meadows and John Chilson, both coming fromtune of more than $100,000. Early Payson rodeos wereRodeo.Their mission is to keep the Western heritage California to Payson. The first rodeo was held in afunded creatively. In the 1920s there were smallerand lifestyle alive here in Rim Country. Through the midtown pasture off Main Street in 1884just southwestcrowds and money was not plentiful. Payson wasproduction of the rodeos, they provide funds for their of the intersection of Highway 87 and Main Street. At thestill a remote mountain town far away from the long501c3 non-profit to supply scholarships for local needy first rodeos, no admission was charged and there werearm of state and federal law enforcement, so rodeoRim Country graduating seniors for both vocational no cash awards, but bragging rights were awarded, andorganizers decided to use gambling to fund the rodeoand academic studies, and to also help local breast plenty of cash changed hands.perfectly legal according to the law north of the Saltcancer and veteran support groups. Added funding Riveras noted by Jinx Pyle in his book Rodeo 101!is supplied to other needs and also local high school The name of the Payson rodeo evolved over the years.Gambling tents, slot machines, roulette wheels, dice,sports activities. An added benefit locally is the It was first called the August Races (horse racing wasand blackjack did a bang-up business between 6 p.m.economic impact of our rodeos. This is the result of a big event in those early years to see whose horse wasand midnight each evening of the rodeo. Most rodeosvisitors to Rim Country at rodeo time. It is estimated the fastest) then later the August Celebration or thetoday, including Paysons, are funded by national,that those visitors produce more than $3,000,000 in August Doins, and finally the Payson Rodeo. It was trulyregional, and more importantly local sponsors.Thesales from rooms, food, and fuel that they purchase. A a celebration for the whole town. It was an opportunitygate proceeds cover a little more or less than 60% ofgood reason for all of us to get behind and support our anticipated by everyone, as much as Christmasa timewhat is needed to put on the show. rodeo tradition here in Payson.ArizonaRealCountry.com August 2021 33"