Ellicottville Rodeo
Ellicottville Rodeo
Non-stop Wild & Western action … it’s a buckin’ good time!
One of the great summertime family-fun events in all of New York State begins a four-day run this evening out on Sommerville Valley Road, as the Ellicottville Championship Rodeo returns for its 33rd season of professional cowboy competitions.
Over the course of the Fourth of July weekend, more than 500 cowboys and cowgirls are expected to travel to John and Karen Kent’s postcard-perfect ranch in Ellicottville to contend for approximately $60,000 in prize money and bling.
“The Fourth of July weekend is known as ‘Cowboy Christmas,’” Kent explained during a recent interview. “This is where the rodeo contestants his as many rodeos they can possibly get to that weekend. Most contestants are hitting 4 or more rodeos! Our rodeo here in Ellicottville is one of the first big ones that they all want to be at.”
Standing in the cowboys’ way of all that prize money, there will be a livestock pen full of some of the meanest farm animals you’re ever likely to lay your eyes on. “They’re definitely not something you can just walk up and pet,” John cautioned. “They are bred to be mean.”
For the cowgirls, the rodeo contests revolve around barrel racing and cowgirls breakaway roping. The ladies showcase their expertise in horsemanship skills to be sure, but the competitions also reveal varying levels of athleticism in their horses themselves.
While the Kents’ pristine farm buildings, stables and grounds provide the perfect venue for one of the first big rodeos of the season, the All-American Rodeo Company out of Fredonia, PA will provide much of the “nuts ’n bolts” of the operation - from all the bucking animals and roping calves to constructing the heavy steel arena, as well as the bucking chutes the animals and riders come out of. They also come in with the crew that moves the livestock from holding pens behind the scenes out to the bucking chutes and start gates where the animals become part of the show.
“The All-American Rodeo Company comes in with their own package of trick riders, announcers and clowns - and they’re all really good. But I like to go out and find the best talent and hire them myself,” John explained, “because I want to make a show that’s a little bit more enticing and little bit more exciting for people to come and watch.”
John credits his rodeo’s prominent standing within the cowboy community for his ability to attract and hire some of the biggest talent in the industry, such as Hollywood “Cliff” Harris, a legendary rodeo clown from Texas.
“All the contract acts have no problem about coming to Ellicottville,” John said. “Hollywood Harris is someone who’s been in the rodeo world for years and years and he was happy to get my call to come work this event.
For each of the four days of the rodeo, nine entertaining events will span 2-1/2 hours of heated competition. Each program includes awe-inspiring trick riders (Courtney Schum from NY, 18 years of age, and Jaycee Lynn from PA, 12 years of age), the comical stylings of Hollywood the clown, and a brief intermission to stretch your legs and find your way to the concession stand and midway.
For all shows, gates open two hours prior to the published start time, so there’s plenty of opportunity to roll in early, park close to the gate and find the best seats. Parking is free. Bleachers are available on one side of the arena, benches line the hillside opposite the bleachers, and spectators also have the option to bring their own lawn chairs. From there, rodeo enthusiasts can grab a bite to eat and an ice-cold beverage from the newly updated kitchen facility. Check out the Rodeo Tack Shop and the cowboy lifestyle trade show, featuring vendors and sponsors of the event.
John points to the popularity of the 50/50 raffle as a win-win, not only for the folks who buy the lucky tickets, but also as a benefit for the rodeo itself, as all of the Kents’ end of the prize money goes right back into the ranch.
“We spent $70,000 this year updating our kitchen and adding more sales windows,” John explained. “So hopefully we can be more efficient in managing the crowds.”
As part of each day’s rodeo competition, there will also be a kids’ stick horse round-up, where children ages 10 and under can bring their own stick horses and gallop around inside the same arena where the cowboys have just been playing. No problem if your stable doesn’t currently include a stick horse; they’re available for purchase at the Rodeo Tack Shop the day of the show.
There are plenty of tickets available for sale at the gate for each day’s rodeo. The price of admission for adults is $25 and $15 for youth ages 12 and under. Children 5-years-old and younger are allowed in for free. Gates open at 5:00pm for the Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening rodeos. Start time is 7:00pm on those days. The Young Explosives Company out of Rochester, NY will provide a thrilling fireworks show immediately following each of these three rodeos.
Sunday’s rodeo takes place on a “getaway day,” as competitors will be traveling either back home or to their next rodeo destination at the conclusion of the day’s events. Therefore, this event will be a matinee; gates will open at noon and the bucking will commence at 2:00pm. Because this rodeo ends with the sun still in the sky, there will be no fireworks show following Sunday’s rodeo.
Rodeos will happen rain or shine on all four days, so dress for the weather, get there early and enjoy one of the great summer events going on anywhere in New York State this year - and it’s right here in Ellicottville!