Guymon rodeo among largest
Cowboys, fans gearing up for Pioneer Days go-round
Guymon rodeo among largest

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By Melyn Johnson

Published: April 27, 2008

GUYMON — This Panhandle city is home to one of Oklahoma's largest professional rodeos.

It's often said more PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association) world champion cowboys compete in the Pioneer Days Rodeo than at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. Usually, at least 12 of the top 15 world rankings are timed or scored in the Guymon arena. Last year, this rodeo ranked 10th largest of all PRCA rodeos (more than 800 are held) and was the fifth largest of outdoor rodeos, according to the Pioneer Days Rodeo Web site.

More than 900 contestants drive in to rope or ride, and more than 100 are turned away as contestants. Next year, they'll try again.

This year's Pioneer Days celebration will be Friday through Sunday.

According to the Web site, this "celebration has its roots in the Depression era of the early '30s. … City fathers were looking for a way to bring folks to town and a reason to celebrate in the midst of hard times. They chose the anniversary of the Organic Act, which on May 1, 1890, made ‘No Man's Land' a part of the territory of Oklahoma. The first weekend of May was designated as Pioneer Days and has been since 1933.”

The rodeo is a cowboys' rodeo. PRCA cowboys voted Pioneer Days Rodeo the large outdoor rodeo of the year in 2002. In 2003, the total payout to the winning cowboys and cowgirls was $344,562. It has been one of the Wrangler ProRodeo Tour events every year since it started in 2000.

The fans sitting in the large concrete stands of the arena bowl know rodeo. The spectators know how the scores are tallied and have been known to boo a score on which they disagree. People in this crowd are just as interested in watching their favorite horses buck out as they are watching their favorite cowboys ride.

A few years ago, a photo of Guymon's all-time favorite bronc, Bobby Joe Skoal (the 1991-93 saddle bronc of the year), graced the cover of the phone book.

Guymon is the county seat of Texas County, which touts itself as the Saddle Bronc Capital of the World. In fact, many National Finals saddle bronc qualifiers are seen working the rodeo and are even event volunteers in addition to being contestants. Best known for their work with the Pioneer Days Rodeo are world champion Robert Etbauer, and National Finals Rodeo competitors Danny Etbauer and Craig Latham. They have spent almost 20 years working to improve this rodeo.

Although the locals love the saddle bronc event, often called rodeo's classic or true cowboy's event, the rodeo in Guymon has the largest steer roping event in the PRCA.

"It's not Calgary, Canada, or Cheyenne, Wyoming, that has the biggest steer roping,” says committee member Ken Stonecipher of Guymon. "It's now the Pioneer Days Rodeo in Guymon, Oklahoma.”

The Guymon rodeo is the cornerstone of Pioneer Days, which also includes:

•Carnival, Wednesday through Sunday.

•Spikes and Spurs Golf Tournament, noon Friday.

•5K walk/run, 8 a.m. Saturday.

•Two-hour parade, starting at 10.30 a.m. Saturday.

•Mercantile with arts and crafts and other wares, all weekend.

•Dances and trail rides.

Melyn Johnson is destination development field representative for the state Tourism and Recreation Department.

Related Topics: Sports, Rodeo