It Takes a Commnity to Raise a Rodeo

The Bandera County community will host its 37th Annual Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA) rodeo this coming Memorial Day Weekend.

For 37 years (38 if COVID had not interfered), our community has done what it takes to show the world that regardless of what may seem to be a small population, we have what it takes to put on a Professional Cowboy Rodeo. Of course we do; after all, we are the Cowboy Capital of the World.

The Bandera PRCA rodeos began when Johnny Boyle was enjoying an evening with some friends at the Wrangler Restaurant in the mid 80s, probably 1983 or 1984. By the end of the night, this group decided Bandera had the necessary foundation to have a PRCA rodeo, and they launched the effort to make it happen over the upcoming Labor Day Weekend. Surely, Johnny can embellish on the creation and first years of the rodeo.

Icons such as Ray Wharton and Scotter Fries and many, many other local residents (too many to name) were involved.

The need for not only volunteer work, but also funds, was apparent. A meeting was held where members of the community donated $100.00 apiece to provide the funds to get the professional rodeo off the ground.

The Cowboy Capital Rodeo Association (CCRA) was formed. These efforts began what would become a legacy of hundreds of volunteers who spent countless hours and selfless contributors who dug into their pockets to present quality professional rodeos.

The work involved to make these rodeos happen is intense, and throughout the years, the responsibility for the rodeos has been shouldered by a series of many leaders and volunteers.

Randy and Liz Lawliss and John and Tammy Teich “led the charge” for a number of years.

Volunteer efforts overcame the challenges faced in the 1990s and into the 2000s.

The rodeos continued to draw crowds and were an essential part of Bandera’s Funtier Days.

In 2014, the challenges faced led to the recognition that perhaps “new blood” needed to step in and shoulder the responsibility that had been supported by the CCRA membership and volunteers.

The Bandera ProRodeo Association (BPRA) was formed, and the PRCA rodeos over Memorial Day Weekend have continued under that association.

Many smaller Texas towns have not been able to continue their PRCA rodeos. The fact that the Bandera community has presented a PRCA rodeo for all these year is remarkable and a tribute to the determination of the residents of Bandera County.

The Memorial Day Stampede rodeos this weekend will be the sixth annu al rodeo presented by the BPRA, who is dedicated to producing a bigger and better rodeo each year.

Every morning, we get up and tighten our belts and pull on our boots with the goal of promoting Bandera’s champion cowboys and rodeo history. The community base of volunteers is tremendous, with over 100 volunteers helping at the 2019 rodeos.

However, we can always use more volunteers, and we welcome any and everyone who wants to help us fulfil our goal of producing rodeos that increase community involvement and enthusiasm for the rodeo legacy of Bandera County.

If you cannot help this year, please help next year. We will still be here.

Let’s show the world the grit it takes to be the Cowboy Capital of the World. There is always room for more volunteers and community involvement and IT’S FUN.

History shows us that it takes a community to raise a rodeo, AND a community to keep it flourishing once it is raised!

Let’s all help keep our rodeos flourishing.

See you at the rodeo! Editor’s Note: Visit banderaprorodeo.org for tickets and more information about the upcoming event.