75 years of The Biggest Little Show in the World

Each year, six-time National Finals Rodeo qualifier and Redmond resident Steven Peebles travels to up to 100 rodeos across the U.S. and Canada, spending hours on the road and away from home. One of his favorite rodeos, and one that he has competed in for the last eight years, is the Sisters Rodeo, celebrating its 75th anniversary this June.

“It’s a rodeo I’d happily drive 20 hours to get to,” said Peebles. “But the best part is that it is only 20 minutes from my home.”

Peebles isn’t the only professional cowboy that keeps the Sisters Rodeo at the top of his list. Known for treating competitors well and with one of the top purses on the circuit — the biggest in the nation for that weekend — Sisters Rodeo has always attracted the top tier of professionals to its arena.

But that hasn’t altered the long history of having a friendly, relaxed atmosphere at the event.

“Over the years, we’ve grown into a fairly large rodeo as far as rodeos are concerned,” said Glenn Miller, president of the Sisters Rodeo Board of Directors. “But we still have that hometown feel.”

The first Sisters Rodeo was held in 1940 and featured amateur and professional cowboys wearing cloth squares hand-painted with numbers and pinned to their backs. Events included bull and bronc riding, calf roping, bull dogging, wild cow milking and wild horse racing. The small-town rodeo offered purses equal to those found at larger rodeos such as Pendleton and Cheyenne, and thus earned the nickname “The Biggest Little Show in the World.”

In addition to offering substantial purses, another tradition the Sisters Rodeo has continued for the last 75 years is producing the event entirely with volunteers (with the exception of announcers, stock suppliers and special performers) just as it was in the beginning.

“All the volunteers put in hard work to create the best show we can put on,” said Miller. “And without the sponsors — many of whom have been with us for a long time — we really could not do it.”

There are approximately 200 members of the Sisters Rodeo, all volunteers, who work throughout the year to organize and plan for the annual event as well as ensure that the grounds and facilities are upgraded and in excellent condition. Bonnie Malone has been active in the organization since 1982 and currently serves as the secretary. She says the group is like family.

“It is really nice to be around people who work so doggone hard,” said Malone. “It is an all-volunteer effort and very hard work, and it is all done out of love for the Sisters Rodeo.”

The positive spirit that infuses the planning and production of the event can be felt by the audience members, contestants and performers. Rodeo clown J.J. Harrison got his start at the Sisters Rodeo nearly a decade ago and has been a devoted fan and participant ever since. He travels all across the country performing approximately 140 shows each year, and when people ask him which rodeo is his favorite, the answer is always the same.

“I just love the Sisters Rodeo,” said Harrison, who lives in Walla Walla, Wash. “The ‘X factor’ that the Sisters Rodeo has is a feeling in the air as you walk around that something special is about to happen.”

At the Sisters Rodeo, professional cowboys rub shoulders with city folks wearing flannel shirts for the first time, and the mood is relaxed.

“Everyone comes to let loose and have fun,” said Harrison. “And everyone is just so accepting of everyone else. People come with their minds clear and their hearts open, and the energy there rivals any sports arena in the country.”

While some things have been constant with the Sisters Rodeo since it began 75 years ago, the actual location of the annual event has seen many changes before finding its permanent home in 1979.

“Purchasing that property back in 1979 gave us a home to build on,” said Miller. “It was a highlight in the history of the rodeo for me.”

Other highlights cited by Miller include moving from an amateur to a professional rodeo sanctioned by the PRCA in 1988, installing the giant screen digital scoreboard with instant replay and all the major upgrades to the property — such as putting in plaza seating and rebuilding the clubhouse — over the years.

“If you stay the same, you are backing up,” said Miller. “My thinking is that we’ve got to keep improving, make it bigger, make it better and keep building.”

With an eye toward the future, Miller doesn’t take the 75-year history of the rodeo for granted. Recognizing that it is the volunteers and generous sponsors that keep the event viable, he’s focused on finding ways to keep supporters energized and forward thinking. But for now, he’s focused on producing a great show for the contestants and the community in June.

While there are several surprises in store in honor of the 75th anniversary of the rodeo, Miller said he wants to keep those up his sleeve for now.

“But I can share that we have invited all the former rodeo queens to attend and quite a few will be there, in the parade and at Saturday’s performance in the arena,” said Miller.

All of the past board presidents have also been invited to attend as guests of honor. This year the rodeo will feature announcers Curt Robinson and Wayne Brooks. Bullfighters Rowdy Barry and Danny Newman, along with rodeo clown J.J. Harrison will liven up the arena along with the crowd-pleasing specialty act, The One Arm Bandit and Company.

Rodeo events kick off Tuesday, June 9 with the free Barrel Race Jackpot at 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 10 is the PRCA Xtreme Bull Riding at 6:30 p.m. and Thursday, June 11 is the free “Slack” performances, with gates opening at 8 a.m.

Then on Friday, June 12, Les Schwab Family Night kicks into gear, with children 12 and younger admitted free and rodeo performances at 1 and 7 p.m.

Saturday, June 13 highlights include the rodeo parade in downtown Sisters at 9:30 a.m., and rodeo performances at 1 and 7 p.m.

Sunday, June 14 starts off with the Kiwanis Buckaroo Breakfast from 7-11 a.m., Cowboy Church Service at 9 a.m. and the final rodeo performance at 1 p.m.

With all the events and fun to be had, it’s no wonder that the Sisters Rodeo has visitors, cowboys and performers returning year after year.

It is, after all, “The Biggest Little Show in the World.”