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]

Contents

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 a local resident; 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. ^ a b "Rodeo Purse Rises At Kissimmee Silver Spurs". Orlando Sentinel. February 1988. http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1988-02-14/features/0020040156_1_rodeo-cheyenne-silver-spurs. Retrieved May 20, 2011. 
  2. ^ a b c 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. http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2005-02-18/news/0502180166_1_silver-spurs-rodeo-osceola-kissimmee. Retrieved May 20, 2011. 
  3. ^ a b "Florida Statutes, Title IV, 15.0391 Official state rodeo". The Florida Legislature. http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0000-0099/0015/Sections/0015.0391.html. Retrieved May 20, 2011. 
  4. ^ Byrd, Alan (February 24, 1997). "Silver Spurs Rodeo: Riding high after 53 years". Orlando Business Journal. http://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/stories/1997/02/24/story7.html. Retrieved May 20, 2011. 
  5. ^ a b c Carroll, Frank (February 14, 1988). "Silver Spurs Rodeo Rides On Tradition". Orlando Sentinel. http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1988-02-14/features/0020040143_1_silver-spurs-rodeo-first-rodeo-rodeo-rides. Retrieved May 20, 2011. 
  6. ^ Abbott, Jim (January 11, 2010). "A bargain to see bucking broncs at Silver Spurs Rodeo". Orlando Sentinel. http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2010-01-10/travel/orl-travel-abbott-011010_1_silver-spurs-rodeo-rodeo-day-rodeo-tickets. Retrieved May 20, 2011. 
  7. ^ Berlincke, Jeff (February 20, 2004). "Silver Spurs Rodeo Back At Kissimmee". Orlando Sentinel. http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2004-02-20/sports/0402200363_1_silver-spurs-rodeo-spurs-riding-osceola-heritage. 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. http://aroundosceola.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4125%3Asilver-spurs-rodeo-takes-center-stage-at-heritage-park-tonight-and-sunday&Itemid=60. Retrieved May 20, 2011. 
  9. ^ "Top 50 2009 Rodeos by committee purse". Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. p. 254. http://www.prorodeo.com/media/2010pdfs/04Stats243-310.pdf. Retrieved May 20, 2011. 

External links