Ellicottville Championship Rodeo 2024
Ellicottville Championship Rodeo 2024
Make Time to Enjoy the Largest IPRA Sanctioned Rodeo in the Northeast
Photos / Ellicottville Rodeo & Rich Rumfola
There are only a few things in life that are better than the Fourth of July. For some, it’s the great appreciation and concentrated expression of patriotism that makes the holiday so special. For others, it’s the summertime’s vessel of an excuse to party and celebrate the warm weather. No matter how you celebrate, it is undeniable that there is nothing quite like the red, white, and blue all-American aesthetic that takes over on the fourth; It’s always fun to do the most American thing you can think of.
Seeing the Ellicottville Championship Rodeo certainly fits the ‘All-American’ bill and is a fantastic way to spend 4th of July weekend with the family! This year’s Rodeo runs from July 4th through the 6th at 7:00pm, and July 7th beginning at 2:00pm. We can anticipate nine different events to be featured, including steer wrestling, cowgirls barrel racing, calf roping, and of course, BULL RIDING! Aside from the main events, there are plenty of local vendors to check out at the midway, as well as different flavors to snack on. Younger children will have tons of fun in the stick horse race, where they can pick on a cowboy their own size and join in the fun and competition!
The Ellicottville Championship Rodeo is the doing of one incredibly passionate and proud family, the Kents. Owner John Kent came across the very property on which the rodeo stands to this day, and had nothing more than an idea and a family who needed a new home.
“Well, I bought this property March 21st, 40 years ago, so I could build a house here,” said John.
Forty years ago, John marveled at the 214-acre plot he had purchased, all to build his family home. Besides the house, 2 barns - one for John’s wood shop, and the other for horses.
“I got the horses for my kids and I. We rode them all the time up on the hills,” John said, smiling on the happy memory. “I said to them one day, ‘We gotta open a riding stable’. Of course I had to get approval from the wife, but we did just that.”
John’s early customers were the ones who actually implanted the rodeo seed in his head. They loved riding out on his property so much they convinced him to do more. In its early years, John’s rodeo volunteers were his early riding stable patrons. “That lasted a couple years until those friends moved on, but we’re still here, 35 years later!” he exclaimed.
And John’s rodeo has only grown in those 35 years. I was shocked to find out that the Ellicottville Championship Rodeo is the largest IPRA-sanctioned rodeo in the entire Northeast! Signifying the International Pro Rodeo Association, this program is huge across both the United States and Canada. For 60 years, IPRA has been sanctioning rodeo events and now handles around 300 of them. To have the biggest one in the entire Northeast region right in our backyard is a pretty huge deal.
But as they say, it takes a village. John has had the support of his wife, Karen, and children through everything throughout the course of the event’s lifespan. And now, John says his sponsors are everything! “Oh, I couldn’t do it without the sponsors. Period. I’m very grateful for them,” commented John.
E-Ville Spirits Wine & Liquor, Pioneer Propane, and Whitetail Properties Real Estate are just some of this year’s sponsors, but you’ll see tons more local vendors represented there this weekend! As far as food vendors however, you won’t see any of those. Ellicottville Rodeo does one better.
As if John and his incredible rodeo-starting family aren’t superhuman enough, John and his wife make and sell all of the food themselves! For an event that can gross up to 3,000 people at one time, all of the food is done in-house. “I don’t let any kind of food vendors in here, that’s all me!” John exclaimed. You can expect hamburgers, hot dogs, ice cream, beer, popcorn, pizza, pretzels, and my wife does a hell of a taco salad,” John added.
While you’d never know by meeting him or hearing his story, John does all of this at 72 years old! Not to mention, has been doing it for the past 35 years as well. What John and his family have built is truly remarkable. If you’re looking for something extra American to do this 4th of July, or if you just want to support such a prominent piece of Ellicottville’s culture (and the family behind it), you can find more information at ellicottvillerodeo.com. Here, you’ll see ticketing information, parking info, and other important details. The Ellicottville Championship Rodeo is located on Sommerville Valley Road right here in Ellicottville. It’s definitely a must-visit! “It’s fun for the entire family!,” said John. “Old, young… it don’t matter! People come out and have a good time!”