History OF
History of the WYO Rodeo by Tom Ringley
1928 & 1929
20,000 in attendance!
THE PK RODEO
The event took place on the PK Ranch west of Sheridan. It proved people would come to a rodeo. Nearly 20,000 people attended the show and there were 3,000 from 35 states.
1931
The first poster.
First Sheridan WYO ROdeo Performance
The first Sheridan WYO Rodeo took place, organized by a group of local citizens who wanted to put the small town of Sheridan on the map. The first rodeo was a great success.
The $15,000 purse brought professional rodeo contestants from all over the United States. A rodeo parade on Main Street drew thousands of spectators, and a carnival at the fairgrounds and participation of hundreds of Indians in night shows provided even more entertainment. The Sheridan-Wyo-Rodeo was well established.
To publicize the event, E. W. Bill Gollings was commissioned to paint a picture for the first Sheridan-Wyo-Rodeo poster. The entire community and downtown merchants helped support the efforts of the rodeo committee to ensure the success of the first Sheridan-Wyo-Rodeo. Bill Gollings Poster Marketing, 10,000 posters were printed and given to people who went on vacation to distribute all over the U.S. and beyond.
1944-51
1944 BOTS SOTS STAMPEDE
In 1944 the rodeo was reactivated, it was renamed the Bots Sots Stampede to invoke the memory of a series of rodeos in 1914-1916 called the Sheridan Stampede. Bots Sots is the Crow Indian term for “very good” and the term was used to advertise the Sheridan Stampedes of old. While there was still a rodeo, large Indian pageants were replaced by vaudevillian night shows. The rodeo queen program was also reactivated and the rodeo parade and carnivals remained part of the program. The rodeo changed from professional status and was intended to be a “working cowboy” local rodeo, but contestant’s still entered from outside the local area.
The rodeo board still struggled to maintain merchant and community support and the financial condition of the rodeo was usually stretched thin. But 1951, a public poll was conducted to find if the community wanted the rodeo to continue. The public voted for continuation and also voted to restore the Sheridan-Wyo-Rodeo name.
The rodeo board still struggled to maintain merchant and community support and the financial condition of the rodeo was usually stretched thin. But 1951, a public poll was conducted to find if the community wanted the rodeo to continue. The public voted for continuation and also voted to restore the Sheridan-Wyo-Rodeo name.
1951
The '51 Rodeo
In a poll conducted to find if the community wanted the rodeo to continue, those who particpated in the poll voiced their desiree to restore the Sheridan WYO Rodeo name. Also in 1951, Lucy Yellow Mule, a member of the Crow Tribe, was elected rodeo queen by popular applause.
1966
ProfesSional Rodeo
The Sheridan WYO Rodeo became professional again, after the board determined the rodeo had become too large, too expensive and too long. The switch limited contestants and streamlined performances.
1997
Indian Relay Races
World Championship Indian Relay Races began.
2005
Gold Buckle Club
Gold Buckle Club was formed, featuring 250 private citizens who had a desire to provide additional financial support to the rodeo.
2010
PRCA Million Dollar Tour
WYO Rodeo Board joins the PRCA Million Dollar Tour, increasing contestant prize money and ensuring top contestants compete in Sheridan.
