Snake River Stampede is still bucking hard after 100 years
The Snake River Stampede kicked off its 100th year of rodeo Tuesday night at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa. Over the years, that’s a lot of cowboys, cowgirls, bullfighters and livestock.
And so much more.
The rodeo, which runs through Saturday night, is still going strong. This year drew a record number of entrants (727) who are competing for a record amount of prize money ($426,000).
Here are some of the most memorable moments in Snake River Stampede history:
FIRST BUCKING CONTEST
The Stampede’s roots go back to 1913. That year, a roped-off arena was used and since there were no stands, spectators watched the bucking action outside the ropes.
In 1915, admission was charged.
“So that’s how we get our 100th anniversary this year,” said executive secretary Jimmy Hurley, who has been with the Snake River Stampede for nearly 40 years.
GOING PRO
The Stampede became a professional rodeo in 1937. Lights were installed and the action took place at night for the first time. Rodeo director Ike Corlett dubbed the rodeo the Snake River Stampede after other names — such as the Ski-Hi Rodeo and Thunder Mountain Round Up — were considered.
“That was the first year it had a name,” Hurley said. “Before that, they just called it a rodeo and buck show.”
ROOSEVELT LIGHTS IT UP
President Franklin Roosevelt had a hand in the festivities as the Stampede became a professional rodeo in 1937.
“He turned on the lights from his home in Hyde Park, New York,” Hurley said. “He pressed the telegraph keys that were studded with gold from the gold strike in Alaska. … I don’t know who got him to do it, but Franklin Roosevelt turned on those lights in 1937.”
A QUEEN IS CROWNED
Carol (Blocher) Westgate was 17 years old when she became the first Snake River Rodeo queen in 1949.
“They had queens before, but they had nothing to do with riding a horse or whatever,” Hurley said. “She was the first true rodeo queen.”
Westgate, now living in California, returned to the Snake River Stampede in 2011 at age 78. She told Hurley then that she would return for this year’s anniversary celebration.
True to her word, Westgate plans to attend the rodeo Friday and Saturday.
HOLLYWOOD COMES TO NAMPA
In 1950, the rodeo moved into a big, green stadium on Garrity Boulevard in Nampa. TV, radio and movie star Gene Autry, known as “The Singing Cowboy,’’ agreed to be the rodeo’s headliner that year.
“I think they crammed about 12,000 people into an arena that was only supposed to hold 10,000 — and there were a few thousand more in the park,” Hurley said. “They couldn’t see, but they could hear from the park across the street.”
HOMETOWN HERO
Virtually every big name in rodeo has competed at the Snake River Stampede. But perhaps no one has had so much success in Nampa — or made such a lasting impact — as local legend Dean Oliver.
He won his first calf roping championship at the Stampede in 1955 and he went on to win nine more, with the last one coming in 1969.
“This was his hometown rodeo … and he won here 10 times, which is unheard of,” Hurley said. “You know, it’s your hometown, and people want to do well. … It’s hard for guys to win it once.”
Oliver had his share of success outside of Nampa, too. He won eight world championships in calf roping and three more worlds as the all-around cowboy.
FUNNY MAN, BARREL MAN
Hall of Fame bullfighter and barrel man Leon Coffee made his Snake River Stampede debut in 1991. After that, he became a beloved fixture at the rodeo.
He retired as a bullfighter in 1993 and as a barrel man in 2007.
But he’s back in the barrel for this week’s anniversary celebration, recreating fond memories and providing a few more laughs.
A STAR IS BORN
Reba McEntire’s first show as a headliner was at the 1983 Snake River Stampede. That night was poetic justice for Hurley.
“One year, we had Jerry Lee Lewis booked, but he had emergency surgery just before the rodeo,” Hurley said. “So we were scratching and trying to find somebody. And I said, ‘I have a friend who will come.’ But nobody had heard the name Reba McEntire.”
The organizers went with Donna Fargo instead.
But it wasn’t long before McEntire’s career skyrocketed — and Hurley got the last laugh.
Stampede fans will be able to see a short video this week that McEntire has filmed, congratulating the rodeo on its 100th anniversary.
NEW HOME
The Stampede moved in from the elements and became an indoor rodeo when it moved into the Idaho Center (now the Ford Idaho Center) in 1997.
That same year, Hurley was instrumental in creating a new attraction: The Stampeders Night Light Drill Team.
“We used little Christmas tree lights and pinned them on our clothes,” she said. “None of us knew what was going to happen. … All of the lights were one color, so it was hard for the girls to pick out each other, for meeting up with your partner and things like that.”
The kinks were worked out and a new tradition was born.
The Stampeders have performed at the National Finals Rodeo and were invited to the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
“It’s been pretty well received,” Hurley said. “But we have better lights now.”
HIGH HONORS
The Snake River Stampede earned a spot in the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in 2014. The induction was a memorable moment for Hurley and the rest of the Stampede staff.
“I started here in (1997), and getting inducted into the Hall of Fame last year would have to be right there at the top,” she said.
This story was originally published July 14, 2015 at 11:40 PM.