The Livingston (Mont.) Roundup Rodeo, held one hour outside Yellowstone National Park, is celebrating its 100th anniversary this week.
The event started in 1924 when Charlie Murphy, who organized the Madison Square Garden Rodeo in New York City, decided to sanction a rodeo in the shadow of the world’s first national park.
“Even back in the 1920s, they were looking at the tourist dollar,” Livingston Roundup Rodeo Committee Chairman Bruce Becker told the ProRodeo Sports News. “Most of the people driving back then had Model-A or Model-Ts. But they were a group of far-sighted businessmen that said, ‘let’s put on a rodeo and attract people to the area.'”
Murphy lived in Livingston and oversaw the stock at the Madison Square Garden Rodeo in New York City. He brought 28 top bucking horses to Livingston on Labor Day of 1924, and the Roundup Rodeo got going in 1925.
Although this iconic rodeo’s roots date back nearly 100 years, the Livingston Roundup’s record book begins in 1952. Since then, the biggest names in ProRodeo have competed at this component of the Cowboy Christmas run, but only the best have left their mark in the record book.
“We are the gateway to Yellowstone,” Becker said. “We’re 50 miles from Yellowstone National Park, so we get a lot of tourists here. And we’re trying to make sure that they have a positive Western lifestyle experience.”
Ahead of the centennial edition, the City of Livingston, Park County Commission and the Montana state legislature passed resolutions honoring the rodeo’s longevity in the community.
The chamber of commerce estimated that the rodeo brought in $4 million to Park County as a three-day event and is set to bring in even more money as a four-day event.
Becker has served as the committee president for a quarter century and volunteered in the concession stand and around the facility for several years prior to his appointment.
He said over the years, the committee has made a concerted effort to give back to area charities and improve the Park County Fairgrounds with an arena fence, a crow’s nest, bleachers, a ticket office, a tractor, chute gates and more.
“We’ve contributed a lot of money to make this facility better and we think we’ve improved the facility,” Becker said. “I hope that makes a difference because we’re supported by the local community. We’re sold out for four nights.”
The Livingston Roundup Rodeo commenced on July 1 and runs through Independence Day with fireworks shows after each performance.
“Our 100 bucking years event has been well received by the local community and the state of Montana,” Becker said. “I’m blessed to have a lot of community support for our rodeo.”
Courtesy of PRCA
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