This year was Greeley's 78th Annual Independence Stampede, and their history is as long as the entrants for this PRCA Rodeo are. Greeley sponsors a 14-day event, which includes eight PRCA Pro Rodeo performances, a Kids', Rodeo, and this year, a PWRA Pro Women's Rodeo.
If that isn't enough to keep a cowboy or cowgirl coming back, the Stampede includes some of the biggest names in country music and classic rock performing on their main stage. These incredible concerts included the talents of Foreigner, Creedance Clearwater Revisited, and country superstars Kenny Chesney, Dwight Yoakam, Lonestar, Brooks & Dunn, Andy Griggs, Collin Raye, Lee Ann Womack, Mark Chestnut, and the not to miss Fourth of July concert with Chris LeDoux. LeDoux is a former1976 Bareback world champ, and oftentimes his biggest fans are rodeo cowboys. LeDoux's concert finale includes riding a mechanical "horse" bareback and his performance will show you just why he was, and still is, a world champion.
This year's PRCA roster included well-known cowboys and cowgirls in all events, such as Marvin and Mark Garrett, Larry Sandvick, Johnny Silva, Cody Browne, Bobby Griswold, Billy Farmer, Joe Beaver, Sherry Cervi, and Kristie Peterson, to name a few.
Fifty years ago, in July 1950, the Greeley's Fourth of July rodeo was a tad smaller than today's. The "Go West With Greeley Rodeo," as it was called then, lasted on two days--July 3 and 4. The prize money for top scoring cowboy was $468.78.
But that's just a bit of Greeley's colorful history. Here's some more:
1926 - Heavy rains and bad weather during the days leading up to the Fourth almost caused a cancellation of the rodeo. Fortunately, the rain stopped just in time. Because the farmers couldn't work their muddy field, they all came to the rodeo, making that year one of the best-attended rodeos in its history.
1927 - The Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) and the supporters of the rodeo battled when the WCTU circulated petitions to end the rodeo. If it weren't for John M.B. Petrikin, president of the National Bank and one of Greeley's most influential residents, standing up and telling the city he supported the events, there wouldn't have been a rodeo that year.
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