The Livingston Roundup

While summer is rodeo season in the West, Fourth of July weekend is known as “Cowboy Christmas” for all the rodeos that take place across the region. The rodeo in Livingston, Montana, known as the Livingston Roundup, is one of the best and boasts the 10th highest purse in the nation. Cowboys from all over the West and as far away as Louisiana and Missouri competed in this year’s rodeo and were joined by more than 10,000 spectators on the nights of July 2nd, 3rd and 4th at the Livingston Fairgrounds.

The Livingston Roundup is one of the three PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboy’s Association) “Gateway Rodeos” held in Livingston, Red Lodge, MT, and Cody, WY, the same weekend. Often, the cowboys travel between the three, often driving all night to get to their destinations.

Bareback bronc riding, bulldogging (steer wrestling), team roping, saddle bronc riding, barrel racing (the only event for women) and bull riding are the rodeo competitions. Though many of these events are based on the early days of ranch work, modern techniques have evolved so that calf roping remains the only professional rodeo event still actively utilized in ranch life. Even “breaking” colts is a much tamer affair, the goal being to minimize bucking rather than using it as a primary tool to wear a horse down.

In recent years, the Ranch Rodeo has become a popular event around the West. In the ranch rodeo, cowboys demonstrate the skills required for ranch work by competing in team events that include team branding, doctoring and sorting, as well as ranch bronc riding, and wild cow milking.

The 86th annual Livingston Roundup gets started on Friday afternoon with a parade down Main Street and a party in Sacagawea Park. Each night the rodeo is followed by an impressive fireworks display. It's a great celebration of the American West and our nation's independence. And it's fun for all ages!