Ute Mt. Roundup Rodeo will again be held in Cortez

Ute Mt. Roundup Rodeo will again be held in Cortez

Jan. 3, 2001

STAFF REPORT

Rodeo events are taking shape for the new year.

The Four States Junior Rodeo will be holding its third rodeo of its sixth winter season at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds in Cortez.

The third rodeo of the 2001-02 season is scheduled for this Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 5-6. The first one was held Oct. 20-21 and the second Dec. 1-2. All rodeos will be held in the indoor arena at the fairgrounds.

The remaining dates are Feb. 17-18. Contestants must compete in four of the five rodeos to qualify for the end-of-year awards. The 9-11, 12-14, and 15-19 age groups will compete on Saturdays. The 5-Under and 6-8 age groups will compete on Sundays.

The biggest news is that the Cortez American Legion Post 75 will once again host the annual Ute Mountain Roundup Rodeo, a Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association event, this June. There was a great deal of concern that last year’s pro rodeo would be last one held at the local arena. But Carl Armstrong, longtime general chairman, announced he has signed Honeycutt and Sons Rodeo Co. to a contract.

Honeycutt and Sons recently purchased the Durango Summer Pro Rodeo Series from Jeff and Linda Mannix. Honeycutt and Sons Rodeo Co. for years has provided the rough stock for the event. Now the rodeo company will not only be the stock contractors but owners and promoters.

The National High School Rodeo Association will hold its Mid-Winter Board of Directors meeting in Farmington Jan. 22-25. The NHRA National Finals Rodeo will be held at McGee Park in Farmington this July.

Currently, the NHSRA boasts some 12,000 members from 39 states, four Canadian provinces and Australia. The National High School Finals Rodeo is held annually and rotates every two years from among chosen sites. For the last two years, the event was held in Springfield, Ill. It will be held in Farmington this year and next. In recent years it has been held in Pueblo and in Gillette, Wyo.

The National High School Rodeo Association had its beginning as a state rodeo in Halletsville, Texas, in 1947, and was organized as the National Championship High School Rodeo Association. Claude Mullins, Alton Allen, and Leon Kahanek fathered the idea, and Texas' first state rodeo was held in June of 1947 with 100 contestants participating. The following year New Mexico had a similar rodeo; in 1949, Louisiana, Montana and South Dakota also held state rodeos.

Created by Texas educator and rodeo contestant Claude Mullins, the NHSRA held its first finals in Halletsville, Texas, Aug. 25-27, 1949. Mullins founded the NHSRA on two principles: to encourage youth to stay in school and to promote the highest type of conduct and sportsmanship. The NHSRA has honored Claude Mullins' vision by maintaining the integrity and standards he set forth. Stressing the importance of education and teaching life skills such as leadership, responsibility, dedication and commitment will continue to be the purpose and goal of this organization.

One of the fastest growing youth organizations in the nation, the NHSRA has an annual membership of over 12,500 students from 39 states, four Canadian provinces and Australia, and sanctions over 1,100 rodeos each year. The NHSRA is governed by a national board of directors (one from each state or province) while a staff at the National Headquarters in Denver, Colorado, handles the day-to-day operations.The first National Championship Rodeo was held in Halletsville, Texas, in 1949, with the state champions competing. In 1951, the organization of a national association was completed with the following charter member states: Texas, New Mexico, Louisiana, Montana and South Dakota.

The National Championship High School Rodeo Association was incorporated in May 1961 as a non-profit, South Dakota Corporation to be known as the National High School Rodeo Association. In that year, 287 contestants from 20 states competed at the National Championship Rodeo held in Douglas, Wyo.