Rodeo Events

Rodeo Events

ProRodeo Action

Get ready for heart-pounding excitement at the Douglas County Fair & Rodeo’s thrilling rodeo events! From bull riding to barrel racing, the rodeo promises non-stop action and entertainment for the whole family. Don’t miss your chance to witness the professional rodeo stars in action – join us for an unforgettable rodeo experience at the Douglas County Fair & Rodeo! 

PRCA ProRodeos

The Douglas County Fair & Rodeo presents the greatest sport on dirt with four exciting ProRodeos that feature contestants from the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and Women’s Professional Rodeo Association.  

  • Thursday night’s performance features Roughstock ONLY with Bares, Broncs & Bulls. 
  • Friday, Saturday, and Sunday performances will include Bareback Riding, Steer Wrestling, Saddle Bronc Riding, Tie-down Roping, Team Roping, Barrel Racing, and conclude with Bull Riding.  

Come to the PRCA Rodeos and see the award-winning animal athletes perform and cheer on your favorite contestants. We are ProRodeo! 

TICKETS ON SALE APRIL 2024

Rodeo 101

Learn more about rodeo events and how they're scored:
Bareback Riding

Bareback Riding

Both the rider and the bucking horse are judged in this event. It is a single handhold, eight-second ride that starts with the cowboy’s feet held in a position over the break of the horse’s shoulders until the horse’s front feet touch the ground first jump out of the chute. The rider earns points maintaining upper body control while moving his feet in a toes-turned-out rhythmic motion in time with the horse’s bucking action. Points are awarded by the judges, up to 50 for the animal athlete and up to 50 for the cowboy’s performance. 

Barrel Racing

Barrel Racing

This event is a horse race with turns. The cowgirl’s time begins as she rides her horse across the starting line in the arena. She makes a run around three upright barrels, which are in a cloverleaf pattern, and back to the starting line where the clock stops. Tipping a barrel is permitted, but if it is knocked to the ground, a five-second penalty is added to her time. Fastest time wins. 

Bull riding

Bull Riding

Bull riders, who might not weigh more than 150 pounds, place a flat braided rope around a bull that weighs almost 2,000 pounds. The bull rope is placed around the animal, just behind its shoulders. It is then looped and threaded through itself, and the cowboy wraps it around his riding hand with only his grip holding him in place. The rider relies on balance and leg strength to make the eight-second buzzer. Look for bull riders to sit up close to their bull ropes and turn their toes out because rides are judged on the competitor’s riding style and the bull’s bucking ability. Points are awarded by the judges up to 50 for the animal athlete and up to 50 for the cowboy’s performance. 

Saddle Bronc

Saddle Bronc Riding 

Known as rodeo’s classic event, saddle bronc riding is judged similarly to bareback riding, but there are additional possibilities to being disqualified; that is, losing a stirrup or dropping the thickly braided rein that is attached to the horse’s halter. The cowboy sits on the horse differently due to the saddle and rein, and the spurring motion covers a different area of the horse. Saddle bronc horses are usually several hundred pounds heavier than bareback horses and generally buck in a slower manner. 

Points are awarded by the judges, up to 50 for the animal athlete and 50 for the cowboy’s performance. 

Steer Wrestling

Steer Wrestling 

This event was originally called “bull dogging” and requires the cowboy to leap from the running horse onto the back of a 600-pound steer, catch it behind the horns, stop the steer’s forward momentum and wrestle it to the ground with all four of its legs pointing the same direction to stop the clock. The bulldogger is assisted by the hazer, typically another competitor, who rides along the steer’s right to keep the animal running straight. This is a timed event. 

Team Roping Rodeo

Team Roping

Team roping is the only rodeo event that features two contestants. The team consists of a header and a heeler. The header ropes the horns, then dallies or wraps his rope around his saddle horn and turns the steer to the left for the other cowboy who ropes the heels. The heeler must throw a loop with precision timing to catch both of the steer’s hind legs; only catching one leg results in a five-second penalty. The time clock stops once both ropers have made a catch and brought the animals to a stop, facing each other. This is a timed event.

Roping Rodeo Event

Tie-Down Roping

Tie-down roping is an authentic ranch skill that originated from working cowboys. Once the calf has been roped, the cowboy dismounts and runs down the length of the rope to the calf. When the calf is on the ground, the cowboy ties three legs together with a six-foot pigging string. Calves are given a head start, and if the cowboy’s horse leaves the box too soon, a barrier breaks and a 10-second penalty is added to the roper’s time. A fraction of a second can make the difference between winning and losing in all timed events. Tie-down roping is a timed event.

Royalty Chaps

Douglas County Fair & Rodeo Royalty

Join us as we celebrate the spirit of the American West and honor the timeless traditions of our rodeo community through the Douglas County Fair & Rodeo Royalty Program. Meet the members of the 2024 Royalty court.

Learn More