First Wyo High School Rodeo Held

“Final plans for the first Wyoming State Championship Junior Rodeo, to be held in Saratoga July 3-4, were drawn up Tuesday night.” 

So reads the lead paragraph of an article written by cub reporter Dick Perue in the June 23, 1955, issue of The Saratoga Sun.

The story continues:

“Saturday night, July 2, a meeting of all contestants will be held to organize the Wyoming State Championship Junior Rodeo association with election of officers the first thing on the agenda.

“Policies of the rodeo… as to drinking, conduct, etc., will also be outlined . . .  as well as selecting the place for next year’s event, Dale Federer, Saratoga Junior Rodeo club advisor, said.

“The rodeo will feature high school students from all over the state. Entries have already been received from Douglas, Cheyenne, Egbert, Arvada, Wheatland and Saratoga, Bob Runner, club president said.

“Rodeo events include a cutting contest, barrel race, breakaway calf roping and queen contest for girls, and cutting contest, bull dogging, bareback bronc riding, team roping, calf roping, saddle bronc riding and cow riding for boys.

“The club stressed that a parent or guardian must sign the entry blank before a contestant is eligible to enter the show . . . ” 

An accompanying advertisement noted, “To be eligible, contestants must have been enrolled in a Wyoming high school for 1954-55 term.”

The article also noted that the Sisson Hotel was registration headquarters, events would be held at the American Legion Rodeo Grounds, the group was affiliated with The National Championship High School Rodeo Association, and major contributions for the event were coming from the American Legion Angus England Post 54.

“Two dances will be held in connection with the rodeo, Runner concluded. Saturday night, July 2, the American Legion will sponsor a dance at the Firemen’s Hall, with Skeeter Pennock’s Orchestra. The second dance will Sunday night, July 3, sponsored by the local Rodeo Club, with Tommy Foster and his Prairie Ramblers,” the article concluded.

A later July article reads, “Five Saratoga high school cowboys and cowgirls will leave . . . for Reno, Nev., where they will compete in the National High School Championship Rodeo there . . . ” – whoa, that’s a ride for another “Postcard.”