The history of rodeo
The sport of rodeo evolved, of all things, from daily ranch chores. Cowboys were rounding up cattle, roping calves that had strayed from the herd, and other daily tasks. As we are prone to do, cowboys began competing against each other to see who the fastest, quickest, and most skilled. These fun on-the-ranch competitions soon expanded to competitions with other ranches. Shortly thereafter, an association was formed for the sport of rodeo, and we never looked back. In South Dakota, it is believed that the first rodeo occurred in the late 1890s in Rosebud which is located on the south central border of South Dakota and Nebraska. Rodeo is such a core piece of tradition in South Dakota that it is our official state sport! Throughout the summer, rodeos can be found in towns across the state.
The Casey Tibbs South Dakota Rodeo Center opened in 2009 and was created to showcase rodeo’s history in South Dakota. One misconception is that the rodeo center is all about Casey Tibbs. Don’t get me wrong, he is an important piece of the museum, but there are so many wonderful and inspiring people throughout the years and we try to highlight as many as possible.
One example is Mattie Goff Newcombe. Mattie is honored at the Casey Tibbs South Dakota Rodeo Center for her contribution to trick riding in South Dakota and around the world. Born in the western part of South Dakota in the early 1900s, Mattie loved horses and rodeos. She started her rodeo adventures as a bronc rider, but soon transitioned to trick riding. She stunned audiences with her ability to complete stunts such as “The Roman Stand,” “Under the Neck,” and “Slick Saddle Stand.” Mattie was recognized as the World Champion Lady Trick Rider in 1926, at the age of 20. She attracted large crowds with her trick riding ability and in 1927 she was named “All Around Cowgirl” which was a title she held until retirement. The museum is lucky to have some of Mattie’s outfits on display, where you can read about her life.
I would be remiss if we didn’t talk about Casey Tibbs, one of the most revered cowboys in history. He was born about 50 miles northwest of Fort Pierre in 1929. Like many youth in South Dakota, his rodeo career started in his teens. Not only was he a saddle bronc and bareback champion between the years of 1949-1959, but he was also a 9-time World Champion. Casey became the youngest man ever to win the national bronc riding crown at age 19! He graced the cover of Life magazine in October 1951. Casey was instrumental in sharing rodeo with the world, introducing it to the Japanese in 1973 while touring with a rodeo troup. After his rodeo career, he became a stunt man and actor for the film industry, making a name for himself in that arena as well. His philanthropy and popularity helped propel rodeo to what it is today.
We hope you’ll visit the Casey Tibbs South Dakota Rodeo Center on your next visit to central South Dakota. We know you’ll be awestruck by the amazing view from the bluff above Fort Pierre, enjoy the colorful history of rodeo, and perhaps you’ll take a ride on our bucking bronc! Can you last 8 seconds?