Attend a rodeo to experience action-packed Western competitions such as bull riding, bronc riding, roping events, and more.
By George Moore, A460576
January-February 2026
I attended my first rodeo as a child in the early 1950s. We lived in White Plains, New York, and my dad took me to New York City to see Roy Rogers, the “King of the Cowboys,” at Madison Square Garden. I was an excited little boy as I got to see one of my TV cowboy heroes and watch a rodeo in person. That was my one and only rodeo experience until September of 2024.
in Amarillo, the Big Texan Steak Ranch offers a 72-ounce steak challenge.
During my RV travels through the years, I would occasionally see a billboard or TV ad promoting a nearby rodeo, but I never attended one. As time went on, a small voice kept whispering, “Go to the rodeo” whenever I saw an ad. Over time, that voice became louder and more frequent. Maybe it was my subconscious replaying the Western TV shows and movies I grew up with, or because of my childhood fascination with cowboys and the Old West.
As you know, traveling by RV allows for unplanned serendipitous stops and side trips. For example, drive Interstate 40 through Amarillo, Texas, in September and you may spot a billboard advertising the Tri-State Fair & Rodeo (tristatefair.com). One of Amarillo’s many excellent RV parks, the Big Texan RV Ranch, is not far from the fairgrounds. The resort also provides a free shuttle to the Big Texan Steak Ranch, where diners can take the 72-ounce steak challenge: Eat the entire steak and all its fixings in one hour and get the dinner for free.
Several other first-rate RV parks nearby include the Oasis RV Resort, Fort Amarillo RV Park, Overnite RV Park, and Amarillo KOA Journey.
The Tri-State Fair & Rodeo also features carnival rides and more.
As I quickly learned, the Tri-State Fair & Rodeo is a major happening — not only for Amarillo, but for the entire Texas Panhandle and nearby New Mexico and Oklahoma. Because of its location in cattle country and the cowboys who work the ranches, the fair kicks off with a longhorn cattle drive through downtown Amarillo. The fairgrounds are only about a 10-minute drive away.
This was probably the largest county fair I have attended. It featured rides for all ages, fair food to satisfy every taste, concerts, arts and crafts, and livestock judging.
The rodeo was a big event as well. Because of its location in the middle of the Texas Panhandle, not a major metro area, I hadn’t expected too much. Boy, was I ever surprised. As it turns out, Amarillo is a stop on the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) circuit. PRCA is the largest rodeo organization in the world. Professional rodeo cowboys compete in its sanctioned events to earn a spot at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Unlike some sports that move along slowly, this rodeo had little downtime. The events transitioned almost seamlessly from one to the next. As soon as one rider cleared the arena, the next rider entered. There were several pauses throughout the night to groom the dirt surface, similar to ice resurfacing during a hockey game.
I enjoy watching highly skilled athletes perform to the limits of their ability, and these cowboys and cowgirls impressed me with their skill, toughness, and fearlessness. Ladies competed in calf breakaway roping and barrel racing. Their roping skills were fantastic, and their horsemanship was incredible. I had watched snippets of barrel racing on TV but never realized how fast it was or how closely the rider and horse worked as one.
In barrel racing, riders and horses race against the clock, following a course set with barrels in a cloverleaf pattern.
Watching the men’s team roping and tie-down roping in person made me appreciate the skill required. Both the bareback bronc and saddle bronc events kept me on the edge of my seat. I was amazed by how fast the horses buck, jump, twist, and spin. My back and neck hurt just watching these cowboys get jarred and snapped back and forth.
The last event was the wildest, toughest, and most dangerous: bull riding. I watched in awe as these giant animals jumped, bucked, twisted, and turned as they tried to throw off their rider. Watching the bulls up close gave me an appreciation for their power and for the skill, strength, and courage of the riders.
For someone who went about 70 years between rodeos, all I can say is, “Wow!” As a little boy, the thrill was to see my hero, Roy Rogers. As an “old guy,” my excitement came from watching highly trained men and women compete in a challenging and dangerous sport. (By the way, rodeo is the state sport of Texas.)
Finding a rodeo near you isn’t as daunting as you might think. As I learned from the PRCA website and speaking with folks at the association’s headquarters, more than 700 rodeos take place in 44 states and Canada every year. They range in size from small one-event competitions (tie-down roping, bull riding, etc.) to mid-size multi-event rodeos like the one in Amarillo to mega events with millions of dollars in prize money.
To search for rodeos that coincide with your travel plans, check out prorodeo.com/schedule. As you look into a particular rodeo, you’ll find information about specific events and other highlights (midway, entertainment, etc.) scheduled along with it. Hint: The greater the prize money, the bigger the rodeo.
The San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo features bronc and bull riding, roping, steer wrestling, and more.
With so many rodeos happening during the year, it’s impossible to give you info about them all. But I do want to mention four of the largest. Three of these are major events in their communities and rank among the top rodeos in the U.S. and Canada.
Each February, approximately 1.5 million visitors attend one of the largest and most prestigious events in Texas: the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo (www.sarodeo.com). While the rodeo itself attracts the top cowboys and cowgirls in the world, attendees are also kept busy at the midway, attending shows, visiting the shops and stock show, and sightseeing around San Antonio.
Jumping ahead to July is the 10-day Calgary Stampede in Calgary, Alberta (calgarystampede.com). The Calgary Stampede is one of the world’s richest rodeos and one of Canada’s largest festivals. Each year, over a million visitors are treated to a large midway, shows, agricultural competitions, chuckwagon racing, and First Nations exhibitions.
Late July finds rodeo fans attending the “Daddy of ’em All” — Cheyenne Frontier Days in Cheyenne, Wyoming (cfdrodeo.com). This event has received the PRCA “Best Large Outdoor Rodeo Of The Year” award 16 times. In addition to attending one of the major rodeos of the year, visitors are entertained by some of the biggest names in musical entertainment, tour the Native American Village, and enjoy the wild horse racing.
Each July, the Calgary Stampede draws over 1 million visitors.
Ending the year is the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, held each December in Las Vegas (profodeo.com/nfr). Participants compete for a share of the $12 million purse while vying to be crowned “World Champion” in their event and to win the “All Around Champion Cowboy” title.
RVers who may be thinking about attending these major rodeos and others should plan months to a year ahead when making reservations, as RV sites and other lodging fill up early. Fantasy RV Tours has scheduled caravan tours to both the Calgary Stampede and Cheyenne Frontier Days for members in the past. For information about the company’s special FRVA-member tours, visit fantasyrvtours.com/frva.
If you have never attended a rodeo, I encourage you to add one to your RV itinerary. You’ll experience the cowboy culture and observe the extraordinary skill and strength required of these competitors. Even if you have attended rodeos in the past, you’ll get another chance to experience and appreciate the thrilling, fast-paced action of these “Wild West” sporting events.