Nestled in the heart of the Willamette Valley lies a tiny town with a big reputation. The town of St. Paul, Oregon, with a population of around 500 people, hosts over 50,000 visitors each summer for the nation’s greatest Fourth of July rodeo. Against a backdrop of star-spangled skies and crackling fireworks, the historic event captures the essence of Independence Day with the spirit of the American West. This year’s 88th annual St. Paul Rodeo will kick off on July 2nd, 2024, with nightly performances through July 6th. The rodeo will feature nightly performances followed by fireworks, an Independence Day parade, carnival games, fair food, and shopping vendors.

History

The Finest Rodeo in the Northwest was born in 1935 when a group of eight farmers and businessmen came together with the vision of preserving the Western spirit and creating an Independence Day rodeo like no other. Led by the first rodeo president, Bill Smith, the men — Ray Manegre, John McKillip, Carl Smith, Maurice Smith, Jim Gooding, Ralph Butt, and Ed Unger — brought the events of bareback, steer riding, roping, saddle broncs, hop buggy, and chariot racing to St. Paul on July 4, 1936 in what would eventually be known as the biggest rodeo held in a small town in the United States.

The rodeo performance featured specialty entertainment acts, including trick riders and ropers. The performance boasted a $500 purse for competitors, and the grounds sported carnival food and beverages as well as a gambling tent with poker, blackjack, and slot machines. Ray Manegre was elected president of the rodeo following the unexpected death of Bill Smith in 1938. He served until 1955 when he passed the baton to John McKillip. But no matter who led the board, constant progress was made as the rodeo grew. In 1940, the rodeo added arena lights for night rodeos. Later, in 1945, new grandstands, bleachers, and bucking chutes were constructed. The new project created seating for nine thousand visitors — six thousand in covered stands and three thousand in bleachers.

The rodeo has continued growing throughout the decades. In 1956, another project began to bring the arena’s seating capacity to its current 10,500. The year 1998 brought new beginnings to the rodeo, as the St. Paul Rodeo Foundation was formed. Its mission is to enhance and enrich the community by supporting education, local history, and Western heritage through the annual St. Paul Rodeo. The foundation provides scholarships to local youth and supports the St. Paul Rodeo Hall of Fame.

National Recognition

As successful decades have passed, the rodeo has been recognized by multiple organizations for its contributions to not only the surrounding area but the rodeo industry as a whole. In 1991, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association gave the St. Paul Rodeo a plaque proclaiming it the “Finest Rodeo in the Northwest.” The event was also the recipient of the 2019 PRCA Remuda Award. It received recognition in 2021 as the Columbia River Large Rodeo of the Year and was recently inducted into the Professional Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2023.

2024 Personnel

The St. Paul Rodeo has worked to outdo itself each year, and 2024 will be no different. The announcers narrating the action will be Justin McKee from Hico, Texas, and Marty Campbell from Pendleton, Oregon. The barrelman this year will be JJ Harrison from Walla Walla, Washington, working alongside bullfighters Dave Murdoch, Josh Daries, and Logan Blasdell. The pickup men include Jared Gill, Jerad McFarlane, J2 Brown, and Mitch Coleman. The animal athletes will be provided by stock contractors The Flying Five and Big Bend Rodeo Companies, Korkow Rodeos, and Big Stone Rodeo Company. Specialty acts for the nightly performances include trick rider and liberty performer Jessica Blair-Fowlkes and Dusti Dickerson. Independence Day will draw the nation’s top talent to the northwest, boasting a $500,000 payout for competitors willing to put their skills to the test.

Hall of Fame

The St. Paul Rodeo Association created a Rodeo Hall of Fame in 1998 to recognize outstanding individuals throughout the rodeo’s history. Inductees of the Hall of Fame include past champions, stock contractors, contract acts, local committee individuals, and top animal athletes. The 2024 Hall of Fame inductees will be honored on Monday, June 1. The 2023 St. Paul Rodeo Hall of Fame inductees included Brittany Pozzi Tonozzi, David Bothum, Eric Layton, Frank Kirsch, Sr., and Debi McKillip. Each inductee has left their mark on the rodeo and contributed to its overall success as an Independence Day staple in the northwest.

Royal Court

The 2024 St. Paul Rodeo Queen is Emelia Coleman from St. Paul, Oregon. Emelia comes from a seven-generation farming family and is 22 years old. She is a senior at Oregon State University studying business marketing with a minor in new media communications. Emelia is a four-year OSU Intercollegiate Horse Show Association member where she serves as the team captain. After graduation, she plans to continue working on the family farm and pursue a career in production within the Western industry.

Princess Morgan Cuff is a fourth-generation hazelnut and grass seed farmer from Woodburn, Oregon. Morgan is currently a sophomore at OSU studying agricultural business. She competed in 4-H and on the Oregon High School Equestrian team in previous years and is currently a member of the OSU Collegiate Stock Horse Team.

Princess Erin Anderson is from Sherwood, Oregon, and graduated from OSU in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in bioresource research. Erin hopes to eventually return to school to pursue a graduate degree in bioinformatics or a similar field. Erin competed in 4-H and American Quarter Horse Association shows when she was young, and credits her love and knowledge of horses to her mother.

Impact

Over 400 volunteers work together each year to bring the St. Paul Rodeo to life. The day following the last rodeo performance, these volunteers plant grass in the arena to transform it into a football field for the St. Paul High School Buckaroos in time for football season in the fall. The rodeo has a $250,000 charitable impact on its host town, with $70,000 of that money coming from direct donations to local organizations. The rest comes from providing a significant fundraising venue for local organizations.

Visit

Tickets to the rodeo are available for sale on the St. Paul Rodeo website, StPaulRodeo.com.

St.Paul Rodeo Facts

Mission: Support our greater community and honor our western heritage
by producing a world class rodeo.

2024 marks the 88th St. Paul Rodeo.
The St. Paul Rodeo has a charitable impact of close to $450,000 including direct donations to non-profits, scholarships and partnering with many organizations to fund raise during the rodeo.
Held in a small farm town with population of 425 – boasts attendance of over 60,000 annually.
Farmers and coaches plant grass the day after the rodeo each year to turn the arena into a high school football stadium.
The St. Paul Rodeo Hall of Fame BBQ will be held on July 1, 2024 where those who have contributed their time and talents to the St. Paul Rodeo are recognized. Live and silent auction benefits the Austin Smith Foundation.
Five days with Six performances: Evenings at 7:30pm on July 2 – 6 with a 1:30 pm matinee on July 4.
July 2 is First Responder Night, offering ticket discounts to all emergency personnel.
Every night, tips are collected to benefit the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund. Since 2011, the St. Paul Rodeo annual campaign has raised more than $245,000 in donations and tips to assist injured rodeo athletes and their families.
Celebrate Independence Day in style with the St. Paul Rodeo 4th of July Parade at 10:00 a.m. on Main Street. July 4 1:30 matinee is Family Day with reduced prices.
July 4 7:30 evening performance is Patriot Night, all active military and veterans are honored and receive discount tickets.
2024 marks the first year to include WPRA Breakaway Roping at each performance.
St. Paul Rodeo Association will add $319,175 to the purse which draws the world’s top professional rodeo contestants every year. In 2023, a total of $440,702 was paid out.
Fireworks follow each evening performance!
Televised performances on The Cowboy Channel, official network of ProRodeo
The Specialty Act will be Trick Riders – Jessica Blair Fowlkes and Dusti Dickerson.
Justin McKee will be back as our announcer and fan-favorite JJ Harrison will be back in the barrel.
The top livestock in the nation are provided by livestock contractors including: Four Star Rodeo, Flying 5, Korkow Rodeos, Big Stone Rodeos, Macza Pro Rodeo, Sankey Rodeo Company, Julio Moreno and King Rodeo Company
Carnival opens every day featuring rides for all ages by Davis Shows as well as a variety of food and concession vendors.
The Tack Room Saloon, voted one of the top 20 cowboy bars in the west, is open every day prior to the rodeo to those 21 and over. Full of historical rodeo memorabilia, located under the grandstands with live feed to view the rodeo while inside and stays open after the rodeo for nightly fun.
The Outpost tent offers casual seating for another adult gathering place to meet up with friends, with picnic tables and live feed viewing parties during each rodeo performance.
Yes, we have TREES in the arena (arborvitae!) A throwback to the early years with horse and pony races in the arena and the trees were used to mark the track.
Arena capacity of 9,600 and in 2023 we SOLD OUT all 6 rodeo performances.
Ticket prices range $20-$60. Tickets are available online at stpaulrodeo.com or by calling (800)237-5920.

-Article by Nicole Jasperson | Photos Courtesy of St.Paul Rodeo