...PRCA Rodeo, and its History...
Professional rodeo
evolved from a working lifestyle,
and the cowboys who compete in today's events carry on the rugged tradition established by
their 19th century predecessors.
Life on
the cattle trails produced a breed that became a living legend, the American cowboy.
To succeed in the early West, cowboys had to develop their roping and riding abilities to
a high level. As they honed there skills, their competitive spirits broadened as well.
Wild West shows, such as those produced by the legendary Buffalo Bill, painted a colorful
portrait of this hybrid of frontiersman and athlete.
Challenges to determine who could rope the quickest calf or ride the wildest horse became common practice at day's end. Roping and riding contests were often staged in the nearest available corral or pasture.
These friendly competitive matches among ranch hands evolved into the modern sport of
professional rodeo.
Today, PRCA rodeo evokes images of the early West with its contests between untamed horses
and cattle that independent breed, the American cowboy.
During the past century, rodeo has developed from casual, individual
contest into a highly organized national sport.
Cowboy frist organized in 1936, calling their group the cowboys' Turtle Association
(CTA).
In 1945, the CTA became the Rodeo Cowboys Association (RCA), and the sport of rodeo began to grow. By 1952, the RCA sanctioned more then 500 rodeos annually.
