July/August 2008 Issue

Ellensburg Rodeo
Blazing New Trails in the Old West
by Annie Alley

The residents of Ellensburg, WA, have made a startling discovery: you can walk both sides of the fence.

Home to one of the top 25 professional rodeos in the country, Ellensburg has celebrated the western way of life for more than eight decades. Every Labor Day weekend, it bursts with traditions born in the century before last. That is except when the sun sets behind the Cascade Mountains and the portal to the Old West closes for a spell. Then the Ellensburg Rodeo turns up the heat with Xtreme Bulls, a boot-rocking, dirt-thudding, heart-pounding spectacle that since 2002 has showcased top bull riders and pro rodeo stock. This summer, the rodeo will introduce the Ellensburg Saddle Bronc Blowout, a showdown of some of the world’s best saddle bronc riders and bucking horses.

In addition to raising the blood pressure of fans in the stands, the Saturday and Sunday night shows represent a gamble for a rodeo beloved for its celebration of the American West. Yet, Xtreme Bulls has paid off by drawing audience members in tune with Justin Timberlake or with Justin boots — all while strengthening Ellensburg’s position as the end-of-summer family destination. Rodeo leaders are planning a repeat with the Bronc Blowout ...

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