Red Bluff Round-Up

The Red Bluff Round-Up is a major stop on the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) circuit that takes place in Red Bluff, California, United States. It officially began in 1921^[1] and was inducted to the ProRodeo Hall of Fame in 2015.^[2] The Round-Up is the largest three day rodeo in the country.^[3]

Red Bluff Round-Up
Genre	Rodeo, livestock show and fair
Dates	Mid to late April
Location(s)	Tehama County Fairgrounds, Red Bluff, California, United States
Founded	1921
Website	redbluffroundup.com

History

The Red Bluff Round-Up unofficially started in 1918 at the A.H. Clough Ranch when some of the workers decided to hold some competitions.^[4][5] This continued in 1919 when more informal competitions were held in Vina, California.^[5] Locals from Red Bluff and Chico saw the success of these events and started the Northern California Round-Up Association and put on the First Deer Creek Round-Up.^[4][5] The first official Red Bluff Round-Up was held in 1921 when it was held in October.^[5] It was moved to late April sometime between 1922 and 1926.^[5] The Round-Up was postponed during the Great Depression and World War II. The Round-Up was first televised in 1970 on around 200 different stations.^[5] In 1988, it hosted one of the “Challenge of the Champions” between the ProRodeo Hall of Famer, Lane Frost, and the hometown 1987 PRCA Bucking Bull of the Year, Red Rock.^[6] In 1996, the Round-Up switched to the three-day format.^[6]

In 2000, Round-Up officials started an event unique to the rodeo, the Wild Ride.^[7][8] It consists of 12 contestants competing in saddle bronc riding while dressed in costumes.^[7][8] It is held during the Sunday performance.^[8] Awards are given to the top placements, consisting of a cash prize and a new saddle for first place.^[8] In 2018, the Round-Up was one of the first rodeos in the country to have women’s breakaway roping on a professional level.^[9]

Community Impact

The city of Red Bluff hosts many different events during rodeo week, including: blood drives, luncheons, a golf tournament, a bowling tournament, auctions, a pancake breakfast, a chili cook-off, a concert after the Saturday performance, and a parade through the downtown.^{[6][10][11][12]} These events may vary from year to year, with the expectation of the Parade, which celebrated its 70th year in 2024.^[10]

The Round-Up brings a lot of traffic through Tehama County, as hundreds of contestants come from across the world to compete, and the performances draw crowds ranging in the tens of thousands.^[13][14] In 2024, there were 675 competitors and 35,000 people in attendance.^[13] This influx of people helps boost the economy, bringing in millions of dollars.^{[5][6][11][12]} The Round-Up also gives back to the community by giving out scholarships and funding local organizations.^[5][11]