PRCA Rodeo

THE RODEO BECAME AN OFFICIAL PART OF THE BELTON CHAMBER’S INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION IN 1924. BEFORE THEN, JULY 4TH WAS A DAY WHEN PEOPLE FROM MILES AROUND MET IN ONE PLACE, AND THE YOUNG BLADES WHO WANTED TO PROVE SOMETHING TO THEMSELVES OR SOMEBODY ELSE ROPED A FEW GOATS AND SADDLE-BROKE A BRONCO OR TWO. THIS RODEO ARENA WAS AT THE TOP OF “PENELOPE STREET HILL,” WHERE BELL COUNTY NOW HAS PRECINCT ONE ROAD AND BRIDGE DEPARTMENT BARN.

IN THE EARLY 1930S BELTON RODEO JOINED THE COWBOYS TURTLE ASSOCIATION, WHICH IS NOW THE PROFESSIONAL RODEO COWBOYS ASSOCIATION (PRCA). DURING THIS DECADE, BELTON ALSO MADE HISTORY BY HOSTING ONE OF THE FIRST NIGHTTIME RODEOS IN THE SOUTHWEST. THE EVENT WAS SUCH A HIT THAT IT LASTED UNTIL 1:30 A.M.

AFTER THE END OF WORLD WAR II, THE BELTON AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE VOTED TO BUILD A NEW RODEO ARENA IN CONFEDERATE PARK. ONCE THE HUGE ARENA, WOODEN BLEACHERS, STOCK PENS AND CHUTES WERE BUILT, BELTON BEGAN TO DRAW TOP PROFESSIONAL COWBOYS.

THE RODEO GREW TO THE POINT THAT ADDITIONAL BLEACHERS WERE STACKED ON WITH METAL SEATS AND THE SHOW ONLY INCREASED IN SIZE. FROM THERE IT MOVED TO THE BELL COUNTY EXPO CENTER, WHERE TODAY OVER 15,000 PEOPLE FILL THE STANDS EACH NIGHT FOR RODEO ENTERTAINMENT.

WHETHER YOU ARE LOOKING TO CREATE A NEW FAMILY TRADITION, BRING BACK OLD MEMORIES OR SEE WHAT ALL THE BUZZ IS ABOUT, THE BELTON AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION AND PRCA HAS SOMETHING TO OFFER YOU.B