The World’s Oldest Continuous Rodeo
130th Performance
Located in Payson, AZ
P
ayson, Arizona is where rodeo
began. Known since its inception in
1884 as “August Doin’s”, the Annual
World’s Oldest Continuous Rodeo is a
world famous event that will celebrate its
130th consecutive year in 2014 on August
15 and 16. The first rodeos in Payson
provided local ranchers and cowhands a
chance to get together and compare their
roping skills and ranching skills during
the annual “down time” before the big
fall roundup. There were only a couple of
events in those early rodeos, but it was
not long before cowboys from all over
the state and beyond were showing up to
compete in new events like bronc busting,
bull riding, and steer roping.
Early Payson rodeos weren’t held in fancy
arenas. In fact, the original venue was a
meadow near the intersection of Main
Street and Highway 87/The Beeline.
Wagons and later autos created barriers to
form the ‘arena’. This year’s activities will
feature everything from beautiful rodeo
royalty to the large shiners participation in
the annual rodeo parade.
Named the country’s Best Small Rodeo
(according to the Professional Rodeo
24
August 2014
Cowboys Association, which sanctions the
event and recently named as the Official
Best Small Town PRCA Rodeo in the
West by True West Magazine in 2009), it
continues to attract the best of the best
from all over the world to compete for
substantial prize money.
Rodeo performances start at 7:00 PM
Friday and Saturday night and at 1:00
PM Saturday afternoon. Gates open 2
hours prior to the performances. Friday
is the Tough Enough to Wear Pink night
that helps fund dollars for local breast
cancer support groups in conjunction
with Wrangler’s Susan B. Komen
program. Saturday evening is the Patriot
Performance that honors our returning,
fallen and wounded veterans, with a
special tribute during the rodeo. Tickets
are available at the gate or online at www.
paysonprorodeo.com . Admission is $18
for adults, $16 for seniors 65+, $10 for kids
8-12, free for children 7 and under, as well
as any active military.
The rodeo festivities
include the 2014
August Doin’s Rodeo
Parade, themed
“Remembering our
Pioneer Heritage”.
It will be held on
August 16, starting at
9:00 AM, on Historic
Main Street in Payson,
Arizona. The Parade
is sponsored by The
Rim Country Kiwanis
of Zane Gray Country.
It will include the
famous APS clowns,
rodeo queens and
their courts, Payson
High School Band,
local floats, riders,
first responder teams
and many other great entries from all
over Arizona. Join in the fun when real
cowboys and cowgirls strut their stuff,
along with the floats, cars, tractors, teams,
bands and units of the El Zaribah Shriners.
The parade will go East from Green Valley
Park to Sawmill Crossing. Announcers
along the parade route will keep you posted
on the coming entries, and provide music
for your entertainment. So, bring your
“mountain” chair, water, and the kids, and
enjoy a great morning with some fabulous
entertainment, antique cars, clowns,
horses, and help Rim Country celebrate
“August Doin’s “. For parade applications,
please go to the Chamber or to www.
rimcountrychamber.com. Applications are
due by August 1st.
Adding to the fun on Friday and Saturday
night you can kick up your heels at the
Payson Pro Rodeo after party and dance at
the Payson Rodeo Grounds. The featured
band, Mogollon will begin playing at
9 PM each night and there is no cover
charge for rodeo
ticket holders and
families are welcome.
Cover charge is only
$5.00 if you did not
attend the rodeo, all
are welcome.
Come join the fun
and experience the
place where rodeo
began over 130
years ago in Payson,
Arizona’s Cool
Mountain Town!
Information:
928-474-9440,
www.paysonpro
rodeo.com
AZintheSaddle.com