History of the Buffalo Rodeo

Rodeo Nominated for National Honor

The Buffalo Rodeo is one of seven rodeos in the country nominated for the National Small Rodeo of the Year honor.

Other nominees include: Athens, TX, Casper, WY, Clear Lake, SD, Estes Park, CO, Mesquite, TX, and Rock Spring, WY.

The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) nominees are selected by contract personnel, the folks who provide the rodeo livestock. Over 1,000 of these people submit first, second, and third choices. A first place pick is worth three points, second is worth two points, and third is worth one point. When the top seven nominees have been selected, a ballot is mailed to contract personnel, rodeo committees, and selected rodeo contestants. They can vote for only one of the seven nominated rodeo.

 

History
The Buffalo Rodeo.  Started in 1955, it's Minnesota's longest running Professional Rodeo event.  PRCA sanctioned since it's start.  The Rodeo was stated, owned, and managed by local business man Don Price.  In 1965 after ten years of remarkable growth, Don realized the Rodeo was too large for one man to handle and transferred ownership to the Buffalo Area Chamber of Commerce.  In 2003, a new Non Profit "The Buffalo Rodeo Association" was formed and the Rodeo is operated independently by this group.

ARENA:
In 1970 after fifteen years of operating on land owned by Don Price, The Buffalo Rodeo constructed it's own facility on it's present site east of Buffalo near the Buffalo airport and civic center.  Consisting of 20 acres and permanent bleachers, arena, and bucking chutes. The arena was called the Buffalo Sports Arena.  In 2001 the arena was dedicated the "Lester Daluge Sports Arena".  Named after Lester Daluge a 30 year member of the committee who lost a long battle with cancer.  The arena is the home arena for two Saddle Clubs, the Buffalo Saddle Club, and the Stars and Stirrups Saddle club.  The arena is utilized throughout the season for events such as Demo Derby, Car Show, Truck and Tractor Pull, Circus, High School Rodeo, Cowboy Mounted Shooting, and multiple horse shows.  

COMMITTEE: President - Stuart Marquette, Vice President Tim Daluge, Secretary - Diane Techem.  Directors - Wayne Twitchell, John West, Randy Johnson, April Hickman.  40 Committee members

CHARTER:
Promote the sport of rodeo and expose its positive image to the general public
Provide facility for venues that require such an outdoor facility
Preserve and develop our historic grounds and year-round multi-use facilities
Build on the tradition of our first 54 years for future generations.
Provide the opportunity for community service groups, charities, churches, schools, boy scout groups to raise money for their organizations

VOLUNTEERS: 
Approximately 200 (Buffalo Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts, Buffalo Lions Club, Buffalo Saddle Club, Stars and Stirrups Saddle Club, Wright County Mounted Patrol, Buffalo Fire Department and Businesses and Friends of the Rodeo.

PROCEEDS:
All proceeds go back into the community.  Between $10,000 and $20,000 each year is generated and distributed between most of the volunteer organizations.  

STOCK CONTRACTORS
Barnes PRCA Rodeo - Cherokee, Iowa.  Bob provided the stock to the first Buffalo Rodeo and is still providing his high caliber stock today.  Inducted into the Pro Rodeo hall of fame in 1994, Bob Barnes in one of only 2 stock contractors to provide stock to every National Finals Rodeo. 
MJM Rodeo Company -Peterson Iowa.  To be assured the best rodeo performance possible, additional stock is provided by the MJM Rodeo Company. 

WHEN:
Annually, in June.  Three evening performances on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday

CIRCUIT:
GREAT LAKES PRORODEO CIRCUIT and THE BADLANDS PRO RODEO CIRCUITS (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Indiana, Kentucky, South Dakota, North Dakota and Ohio)

CONTESTANTS
300-400 from the circuit states plus the Dakotas, Montana, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and many other states and Canada.  Many NFR qualifiers compete Each year at Buffalo