12 | 2021 Umatilla County Fair & Farm City Pro Rodeo | East Oregonian & Hermiston Herald
After one-year absence, the
rodeo
returns
By JEFF BUDLONG
EO Media Group
T
he Farm-City Pro Rodeo is back
after a pandemic-forced one-year
absence, and in many ways it is
setting up to be one of the biggest since
the rodeo began in 1988.
An estimated 500 cowboys are set
to take part in the four-day event, Aug.
11-14, at the Eastern Oregon Trade and
Event Center.
It fi gures to be one of biggest rodeos
in the nation that weekend with a record
purse of $17,500 per event plus entry
fees in bareback riding, tie-down rop-
ing, steer wrestling, saddle bronc riding,
barrel racing and bull riding.
“We should have all of the top cow-
boys here as always,” Farm-City Pro
Rodeo Board of Directors President
David Bothum said. “It has been a little
diff erent because we have had a year off ,
and we want to make sure everything is
lined up.”
Bothum said bringing the rodeo
back is important to Hermiston for both
fi nancial and community reasons.
“It draws a lot of people from across
the area as well as a lot of cowboys,”
he said. “After this rodeo most of the
rodeos are in the northwest so the cow-
boys stay around in this area. Plus, you
get to see world champions.”
Bothum expects
a large number
of cowboys to
attend the rodeo
because of the
truncated season
a year ago due to
the pandemic.
Cowboys are
looking to pick up
points for various
tours, including the
National Finals Rodeo,
which ends the season in Las
Vegas. The rodeo also draws some
of the best animals, having won the
award for best bucking stock twice.
The rodeo will be televised live on
the Cowboy Channel, the offi cial net-
work of ProRodeo, and available in 42
million homes through cable and satel-
lite systems.
“We were televised three years ago
on CBS Sports, but it is not an every
year deal,” Bothum said. “It will pro-
mote the town and the talent, and part
of the money they give us for being tele-
vised goes toward the cowboys.”
Tanner Aus hangs
on during the
2019 bareback
competition at
the Farm-City
Pro Rodeo.
Ben Lonergan/EO
Media Group, File
Family Night
is Wednesday with
face painting for
children as well as a
chance to meet and get an
autograph from bull riders and
clowns.
Thursday is Youth and Ag Night
with a tribute to all farmers, and Patriot
Night is Friday night, along with wine
night for women to enjoy a wine tasting
before the rodeo.
The rodeo grounds have seating
for 8,500 spectators, and with restric-
tions being lifted in late June, Bothum
is planning for a full house. Tickets are
available online with reserved seating
$20 and general admission $17. Gates
open at 6 p.m. each night with rodeo
action beginning at 7:45 p.m.