A trio of rodeos were named 2022’s best rodeos of the year for their respective categories in the Mountain States Circuit (Colorado & Wyoming). I was able to talk with two of them about their reactions to earning the titles — Cheyenne Frontier Days for Large Rodeo of the Year and the Elizabeth Stampede for Medium Rodeo of the year. The article with some of my photography has been published on the website of The Fence Post magazine. https://www.thefencepost.com/news/king-of-the-mountain/
The cowboy and western spirit thrives in the two-state region (Colorado and Wyoming) that comprises the Mountain States rodeo circuit. In this image from 2022’s Cheyenne Frontier Days, untamed horses are let loose to run throughout the arena before each performance at the world-famous venue. Image by Lincoln Rogers – All rights reserved.
One of my favorite rodeos — the Elizabeth Stampede in Elizabeth, CO — won the Mountain States Circuit title (again) for Rodeo of the Year, this time for the designation of Medium Rodeo of the Year.
Well deserved honor for all the good folks who put that rodeo together. Just from my vantage point of covering it for publication year in and year out since 2003, I can tell you it is a labor of love for all involved.
A group photo that includes award winning 2022 Elizabeth Stampede Rodeo board members, committee members, and a host of other volunteers plus royalty and contract personnel show their pride in celebrating the 35th year since the Elizabeth, CO rodeo officially joined the PRCA. The upper photo has them holding up three fingers with each hand, while the lower photo has them holding up five fingers with each hand to signify 35 years of PRCA rodeo.~ Image by Lincoln Rogers, 2022
The 2021 Elizabeth Stampede Rodeo witnessed record crowds over the June 04-06 run of its bull riding and PRCA performances. For the the first time in its 56 years of history, all performances were sold out, including the standing room only areas. The vendors surrounding the outside of the arena grounds were pretty happy!
With every performance sold out throughout the three-day rodeo, Vendor Alley at the 2021 Elizabeth Stampede saw a record amount of people shopping the tents that were set up outside the entrance to the rodeo arena.
One thing has to be said. Without the constant and tireless efforts of 250+ volunteers throughout the year, the Elizabeth Stampede would not be the award winning event that it is. Hats off to the volunteers, committee members, and board members that make it possible every year, but who stepped up in 2021 and created a record-setting venue.
A big part of the 2021 Elizabeth Stampede Rodeo’s crew of volunteers gathered for a victory photo after the completion of the last rodeo performance on Sunday afternoon (June 06). 2021 was a record setting year for attendance at the award winning rode in Elizabeth, CO.
On a personal note, I have been covering the stampede for publication since the early 2000’s. After shooting tens of thousands of photos and interviewing hundreds of people during that time, I still had no idea how much I would miss being around all the quality people who make this rodeo so great until it was cancelled in 2020 and started back up again, this year. It almost felt like arriving to a reunion.
That means a rodeo ride or roping has to have beaten the highest score in that event that the rodeo has had in its history.
Well… the 56th running of the Elizabeth Stampede Rodeo saw a new arena record in the bareback event with an 88 point ride from Jamie Howlett aboard a Summit Pro Rodeo bronc named Cowtown.
South Dakota cowboy Jamie Howlett set an Elizabeth Stampede Rodeo arena record in the bareback competition with an 88-point ride aboard Summit Pro Rodeo’s Cowtown during Saturday afternoon rodeo action at the 2021 Elizabeth Stampede (June 05).
Colorado barrel racer Shali Lord explodes into the third barrel on her way to a 16.14-second time on Sunday afternoon’s round of rodeo action at the 2019 Elizabeth Stampede Rodeo in Elizabeth, CO. Lord’s time was just .01 seconds behind Amy Jo Reisdorfer’s and Brittany Pozzi-Tonozzi’s winning time of 16.13 seconds.
Lincoln's Thinkin's 