Saddle up! The Ute Mountain Roundup Rodeo will take place Thursday through Saturday at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds.
This year 300 participants will compete in front of fans at the Bob Banks Memorial Arena, which holds 1,000 spectators. Competitions include bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, barrel racing and bull riding.
The Ute Mountain Roundup's heritage dates back to a Cortez rodeo that begun around the end of World War I and was held at the middle school. In 1930, the fair and rodeo were moved to land on North Garfield Street that had been donated to the American Legion.
In 1960, the Rodeo Cowboys Association, now known as the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA), sanctioned the Ute Mountain Roundup.
In 2005, the event moved to the fairgrounds. Visit utemountainroundup.org for complete schedules, riders' names, ticket prices (tickets also are available at locations around town), and information about other rodeo happenings. There will be carnival rides, clowns, food vendors and children's events. Each night's performance includes youngsters' mutton bustin' and a stick horse race.
The rodeo starts with a chuckwagon barbecue at City Park on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday arena events start at 7 p.m.
On Saturday, the Ute Mountain Roundup Rodeo Parade will take place at 5 p.m. on Main Street in Cortez. A "Tough Enough to Wear Pink" event will take place at 7 p.m. at the fairgrounds. Since 2004, a campaign by rodeo participants across the West has raised more than $12 million to fight breast cancer..
After the dust has settled, rodeo fans can move on to the American Legion, 320 N. Harrison St., to dance. Friday night features Vanishing Breed, and on Saturday night the Country Drifters will play.
Prize money this year has increased by $2,550 per event. Last year's prize money payouts reached $42,000.
Unlike most other professional sports, where contestants are paid salaries regardless of how well they do, cowboys generally pay to enter each rodeo. If they place high enough to win money, they probably make a profit, otherwise they lose entry fees and travel expenses.