The Home of Champions Rodeo
Red Lodge is “Ready to Reload” the Chutes
Written by Cyd Hoefle, Photography by Colleen Kilbane
When the chutes finally open during the Home of Champions Rodeo over the Fourth of July weekend, it will be a huge celebration. After a year’s absence, everyone in the rodeo community is more than ready to “let ’er buck.”
“We’ve worked hard to make this year’s return one of our best,” Shari DeSaveur, marketing director for the Red Lodge Rodeo, said. “We have an amazing community that has come together to keep it going because everyone loves the rodeo.”
The Home of Champions Rodeo is just one of many that are making a comeback after being canceled last year, many for the first time in their history. For Red Lodge, it was the first cancellation in over 90 years.
The rodeo dates back to 1929, when a group of local cowboys built an arena, gathered up a bunch of untamed horses, invited the town and charged an admission. The rodeo was a success. So, they tried it again the following year and the Red Lodge Rodeo Association was formed. In 1932, the association purchased 180 acres and began work on an arena and grandstands on the site where they remain today.
The Red Lodge area has been home to many legendary rodeo champions starting with Bill Linderman, who began stacking up world titles in 1943, earning three of them in 10 years. It was then that the rodeo association changed its name to Red Lodge Home of Champions Rodeo, and it has been called that since.
The rodeo grounds are located on top of a bench overlooking the town, giving spectators an amazing view of the surrounding mountains. In mid-summer, the grounds, at over 5,500 feet in elevation, are high enough to be cooled by a slight mountain breeze, giving comfort to fans and contestants alike. Folks have been coming from around the world to take part in the three-day event, which includes not only a daily rodeo, but parades and celebrations all over town.
The days surrounding the Fourth of July In Montana and Wyoming are filled with rodeos and what has been dubbed, “Cowboy Christmas.” It’s an opportunity for rodeo athletes to make a lot of money and gather a lot of points in a short time. Many of the Red Lodge rodeo contestants will also try to attend the Livingston Roundup Rodeo and the Cody Stampede, two other rodeos near enough that contestants can at least participate in one other before the weekend is over. Some of the cowboys will even rope or ride in two rodeos on the same day.
The nearby airport makes that possible, at least for the athletes who don’t have to worry about hauling their horses. The airport runway is parallel to the Red Lodge rodeo grounds, and it is not uncommon to see a small plane unload a couple of cowboys and their riggings, who then race across the runway to the arena, ride in their event, climb back on board and head to another rodeo. Fans cheer as the chartered planes take off, giving them an unexpected insight to the lives of the cowboys as they rush to make another rodeo.
You might also encounter contestants who can’t afford to fly, or who need to haul their horses to compete in their events, driving on Highway 212 south to Cody, or north to hit I-90 for Livingston. They’ll be in a truck pulling a loaded horse trailer, racing against time to make another rodeo before the weekend is over. It’s an exciting time for contestants and fans alike.
“We’ve worked hard to make this year’s return one of our best. We have an amazing community that has come together to keep it going because everyone loves the rodeo.”
—SHARI DESAVEUR
Red Lodge consistently attracts many of the top contestants in the rodeo world, and fans can expect the best of the best competing. Also returning to the arena this year will be announcer Doug Mathis, who has been with the rodeo for the past 15 years, and bullfighter, clown and entertainer, Whistle-Nut, and his pet bull, Ole.
Whistle-Nut has a reputation for engaging the crowd. He banters back and forth not only with the announcer, but members of the audience. He and Ole offer up an incredible performance and lots of laughs.
“Both Doug and Whistle-Nut love Montana, and the Red Lodge Rodeo,” Shari explained. “Doug comes up a few days early to make sure everything is right in line with his expectations and Whistle-Nut and Ole have been with us for years, too. The crowd loves both of them.”
Another notable aspect of the Home of Champions Rodeo is the enthusiasm of the crowd, especially those in the arena’s north-end bleacher. For decades, a self-proclaimed group of enthusiastic fans cheer on the cowboys that miss their loop, get bucked off or have an overall disappointing performance. “Ohhhhhhhh Sh….t!” they yell out, acknowledging how the contestant must feel. Both Mathis and Whistle-Nut have been known to capitalize on their enthusiasm and join in the fun.
This year, the rodeo committee expects a sold-out crowd with fans anxious for things to get back to normal and enjoy a few days of professional rodeo, great concessions and few cold beverages.
The fast pace of the rodeo keeps the crowd’s attention and is part of the reason people love to come to Red Lodge.
“We wrap up everything in 2½ hours,” Shari continued. “We have to be done by dark because we don’t have lights.”
Shari has worked with the rodeo for over 12 years and in that time has seen the rodeo continue to evolve into one of the best in the country.
“It continues to get better and better,” she continued. “Some of that is because of the community. The town of Red Lodge does a great job of supporting the rodeo and we have very generous supporters.”
It goes both ways. This year the “Tough Enough to Wear Pink” night, which was founded to support victims of breast cancer, has become an opportunity to support an individual or organization in need. The funds raised for the night will go to the Wounded Warriors project to support injured veterans and their families.
In addition to the traditional events at the rodeo, fans will also enjoy the Mutton Bustin contest where young boys and girls, up to age 8, will try their hardest to stay on top of a sheep for eight seconds. The event attracts young participants from as far away as Billings. Ten kids each night are drawn from a pool of over 50.
“It’s a popular event,” Shari said. “Kids and parents alike want to be part of it. Red Lodge was one of the first rodeos to offer it.”
New this year will be an extra night of rodeo, with the PRCA Xtreme Bulls night on July 1. The PRCA Xtreme Tour showcases the PRCA’s top bull riders and some of the rankest bulls in the circuit.
No one liked to be shut down last year and this year we’re coming back bigger and better. It’ll be a lot of fun.”
—MAVERICK BUSHNELL
The event is PRCA sanctioned and is comparable to the PBR. Points will count toward the NFR, and 40 bull riders are expected to compete.
“We’re very excited about it,” said Maverick Bushnell, a member of the rodeo committee. “Montana only has a handful of Xtreme Bull events and we’re blessed to be one of the rodeos offering it. We think it will be a great addition to the rodeo.”
Maverick, a Red Lodge native and former bull rider, said spectators can expect to see the top bull riders in the world taking part in the event. With Cody also hosting an Xtreme event, bull riders will be making the trip north to compete at both places.
“The timing is perfect,” Maverick continued. “People are excited to not only have rodeo back, but to have a new event to watch. We’re giving them four days of great athletes riding great stock. No one liked to be shut down last year and this year we’re coming back bigger and better. It’ll be a lot of fun.”