History of the Weiser Valley Round-Up
The story of the Weiser Valley Round-Up begins during the hot summer of 1944 when under the leadership of Weiser resident, Chet Thorsen, the small community of Weiser, coupled with many Oregon Slope residents, came together to build a rodeo that would rival some of the Pacific Northwest’s greatest rodeos and ultimately become known as one of “The Best Rodeos in the Intermountain West”. Currently, the Weiser Valley Round-Up is one of the Idaho Cowboy Association’s Prime Rodeos.
Originally an August event, the Weiser Valley Round-Up was accompanied by a livestock fair held next door on the grounds of the Armory, lending to the incorporated title of the Weiser Valley Round-Up and Fair Association. Later in the association’s life, the fair was eventually dropped after the livestock exhibition portion was moved to the county fairgrounds in Cambridge. In addition to the 3-day rodeo and fair, the Queen Competition, Daily Rodeo Parade, Horse Races, Dances and community fundraisers filled the week’s social calendar and brought people from near and far to enjoy in the splendor.
Before the big show in 1944, a call for all able men to turn out for a “Post Hole Picnic” on June 26, 1944, was ran in the local newspaper.
The rodeo workday was a rousing success with over 200 volunteers taking part in the preparations. Chairman Chet Thorsen commended all of the men that helped out.
With the grounds prepared and entertainment lined up and the 3-day event a mere days away, the local paper promoted the long-awaited community event and encouraged fans to purchase their tickets while they were still available.
The 1944 Weiser Valley Round-Up event was a rousing success with an estimated attendance of over 8,500 rodeo fans over the three day event. The Saturday performance had over 5,000 spectators, with even more being turned aware due to insufficient seating. The escape of a Brahma bull Saturday night added to the excitement. Weiser native, Buck Tiffin, gave his fans quite a scare during the Sunday performance when his bucking horse took a fall and rolled over him. Luckily, he sustained no serious injuries.
Doris Ballard was crowned the 1st Queen of the Weiser Valley Round-Up, winning not only the coveted title, but also a paid trip to the Pendleton Round-Up to represent the Weiser Valley Round-Up the following September. Runners up in the Queen contest, Miss Lillian Haun and Miss Betty Thompson were crowned Ballard’s princesses.
Johnny Tubbs, of Spokane, Washington, was the champion of the rodeo; earning the hefty sum of $362.50 for top honors in both the bronc riding and the bareback riding.
The grandest news of the weekend, however, was the donation from the American Legion of 14 city lots to the Weiser Valley Hospital Board for the construction of a hospital. The net proceeds of the rodeo was also to be donated to hospital board to aid in the future construction.
“As early as 1906 or 1907, amateur rodeos were held in a field east of the old high school, where only the hat was passed, according to Lester Applegate and other old-timers. There was no grandstand or bleachers and no corrals or fences. In 1915, races were held on E. Court Street. The first professional Round-Up was held in 1916, on the athletic field behind the old high school, which is now the junior high and part of Memorial Park. For years the Weiser Round-Up was known as “The Best Show in Idaho”. Rodeo greats from across the Unioted States and Canada came to Weiser each fall to participate. At one time, the Weiser Round-Up was just behind the Pendleton Round-Up and was on a 50-50 rating with Cheyenne, two of the largest rodeos in the nation. (Source: History of the Weiser Round-Up, 1993, by Beth Mack)
After the Weiser Round-Up was idle from 1937 to early 1944, a group of dedicated individuals formed the first legal and registered Weiser Valley Round-Up and Fair Association and set to work to revive the Weiser Round-Up. The story of the Weiser Valley Round-Up begins during the hot summer of 1944 when under the leadership of Weiser resident, Chet Thorsen, the small community of Weiser, coupled with many Oregon Slope residents, came together to build a rodeo that would rival some of the Pacific Northwest’s greatest rodeos and ultimately become known as one of “The Best Rodeos in the Intermountain West”. Currently, the Weiser Valley Round-Up is one of the Idaho Cowboy Association’s Prime Rodeos.
Originally an August event, the Weiser Valley Round-Up was accompanied by a livestock fair held next door on the grounds of the Armory, lending to the incorporated title of the Weiser Valley Round-Up and Fair Association. Later in the association’s life, the fair was eventually dropped after the livestock exhibition portion was moved to the county fairgrounds in Cambridge. In addition to the 3-day rodeo and fair, the Queen Competition, Daily Rodeo Parade, Horse Races, Dances and community fundraisers filled the week’s social calendar and brought people from near and far to enjoy in the splendor.
Before the big show in 1944, a call for all able men to turn out for a “Post Hole Picnic” on June 26, 1944, was ran in the local newspaper.
The rodeo workday was a rousing success with over 200 volunteers taking part in the preparations. Chairman Chet Thorsen commended all of the men that helped out.
With the grounds prepared and entertainment lined up and the 3-day event a mere days away, the local paper promoted the long-awaited community event and encouraged fans to purchase their tickets while they were still available.
The 1944 Weiser Valley Round-Up event was a rousing success with an estimated attendance of over 8,500 rodeo fans over the three day event. The Saturday performance had over 5,000 spectators, with even more being turned away, due to insufficient seating. The escape of a Brahma bull Saturday night added to the excitement. Weiser native, Buck Tiffin, gave his fans quite a scare during the Sunday performance when his bucking horse took a fall and rolled over him. Luckily, he sustained no serious injuries.
Doris Ballard was crowned the 1st Queen of the Weiser Valley Round-Up, winning not only the coveted title, but also a paid trip to the Pendleton Round-Up to represent the Weiser Valley Round-Up the following September. Runners up in the Queen contest, Miss Lillian Haun and Miss Betty Thompson were crowned Ballard’s princesses.
Johnny Tubbs, of Spokane, Washington, was the champion of the rodeo; earning the hefty sum of $362.50 for top honors in both the bronc riding and the bareback riding.
The grandest news of the weekend, however, was the donation from the American Legion of 14 city lots to the Weiser Valley Hospital Board for the construction of a hospital. The net proceeds of the rodeo was also to be donated to hospital board to aid in the future construction.
