Silver Spurs Rodeo

The Silver Spurs Rodeo is a rodeo held twice per year in Kissimmee, Florida. During the late 1980s, it was one of the fifty largest rodeos in the United States,[1] and is billed as the largest rodeo east of the Mississippi River.[2] Since 1994, it has been the official state rodeo of Florida.[3]

History

In 1941, the Silver Spurs Riding Club was formed in Kissimmee. In 1944, at the height of World War II, the Riding Club sponsored a rodeo to encourage local citizens to purchase war bonds.[4] The first rodeo was held on July 4, 1944,[5] and in 1951, a February event was added to the calendar.[5] The February rodeo is important enough to the region's self-image that it is a school holiday (for teachers and for students) throughout the county.[6]

The first rodeo was held on land donated by Henry O. Partin, a legendary rancher in Kissimmee who, at one point in time, owned 60,000 acres of land in Osceola County. In 1949, the Riding Club bought a 15-acre parcel of land (to which they added an additional 7.5 acres the following year), and built a stadium, stands, and a concession area.[5] In 2003, the club built a new indoor stadium, the Silver Spurs Arena, which features luxury seats and bar service.[7]

During the late 1980s, the rodeo was one of the fifty largest rodeos in the United States, with a purse of approximately US$60,000.[1] By 2005, however, attendance at had dropped slightly,[2] and as of 2009, the purse had declined to approximately $50,000.[8] The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association does not list the Silver Spur Rodeo in their top 50 rodeo listing for 2009.[9] As the demographics of the region change, with more Hispanic residents moving into the area, the rodeo has moved to increase its appeal to the new residents; it held its first Latin rodeo in 2005, weaving salsa and hip-hop music into its traditional events.[2]

In 1994, the Silver Spurs Rodeo was designated as the Official State Rodeo by the Florida Legislature.[3]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Rodeo Purse Rises At Kissimmee Silver Spurs". Orlando Sentinel. February 1988. Retrieved May 20, 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 Jacobson, Susan (February 18, 2005). "Back in the Saddle: Even As Osceola County Changes Dramatically, Cracker Cowboy Culture Goes On, Epitomized By Silver Spurs". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved May 20, 2011.
  3. 1 2 "Florida Statutes, Title IV, 15.0391 Official state rodeo". The Florida Legislature. Retrieved May 20, 2011.
  4. ↑ Byrd, Alan (February 24, 1997). "Silver Spurs Rodeo: Riding high after 53 years". Orlando Business Journal. Retrieved May 20, 2011.
  5. 1 2 3 Carroll, Frank (February 14, 1988). "Silver Spurs Rodeo Rides On Tradition". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved May 20, 2011.
  6. ↑ Abbott, Jim (January 11, 2010). "A bargain to see bucking broncs at Silver Spurs Rodeo". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved May 20, 2011.
  7. ↑ Berlincke, Jeff (February 20, 2004). "Silver Spurs Rodeo Back At Kissimmee". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved May 20, 2011.
  8. ↑ Pedone, Rick (June 5, 2009). "Silver Spurs Rodeo takes center stage at Heritage Park tonight and Sunday". Osceola News-Gazette. Retrieved May 20, 2011.
  9. ↑ "Top 50 2009 Rodeos by committee purse" (PDF). Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. p. 254. Retrieved May 20, 2011.
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