#PrescottAZHistory: Payson's 'Oldest Continuous Rodeo' Claim Proven False

Payson, Arizona claims their rodeo is the "World's Oldest Continuous Rodeo since 1884." It's a contention that relies largely on oral legends. However, a review of the historical newspaper records refutes the assertion.

The area that would become known as Payson was settled in 1882 and was called Union Park, although residents and newspapers referred to the area as Green Valley. In 1884, the town got a post office and the moniker it enjoys today. Still, it was a tiny town with one mercantile, one saloon, and a population of 40 ranchers and gold miners, along with their wives and children.

Looking at every surviving Arizona newspaper in 1884, there were two events involving horses in the Payson area worthy of any newspaper coverage and both were horse races.

AZ Silver Belt 6/28/1884 Pg. 3

AZ Silver Belt 12/6/1884 Pg. 3

According to newspaper accounts, from 1884 to 1896, Payson only featured horse races, and horse races are NOT rodeo. There are no horse races at rodeos, and there certainly isn't bronco-busting or calf-tying at a horse race. Indeed, the training of the animal-athletes, as well as the humans, is entirely different. It would be like comparing swimming to diving because they both utilize a pool.

The current Payson rodeo website exclaims that since 1884, they "haven't missed a beat." However, even if one allows Payson to count their horse races in their "continuous rodeo" claim, it still was not consecutive. The following year, in 1885, people showed-up for the races at Payson, but ended up going to Globe instead:

AZ Silver Belt 7/4/1885 Pg. 2

Evidently, this population of 40 ranchers and miners had more pressing concerns--like trying to eke out a living in the naked wilderness of the 19th century! (After all, the Indian conflicts were still unsettled at this time! How much spare time did this this scant population have to plan an annual regional event?) It is rare for a newspaper to report on an event NOT happening, but the citing above is one exception.

The following year, 1886, there was one newsworthy event involving horses, but again, it was racing.

AZ Silver Belt 6/26/1886 Pg. 3

Come 1887, there was no mention of any event involving cowboys or horses in Payson in the newspaper--even in the Arizona Silver Belt of Globe, which regularly published local Payson events. In 1888, however, there was an event that everyone would consider a rodeo, (FINALLY!) However, it was in December of that year, five months after Prescott's first.

The story of the first rodeo in Yavapai County which occurred 4 weeks prior to Prescott’s World’s Oldest Rodeo.

Although newspaper coverage of the 1888 event was extensive, the following years contained no mentions of any event involving horses or cowboys in Payson in those early years at all! While this admittedly does not prove that an event did not happen, it certainly does nothing to prove that it did. Oral history has its place, but it's hardly as conclusive as newspaper reports.

The following years had no mention of any Payson event involving horses or cowboys in any surviving Arizona newspaper: 1889, 1890, 1891, 1893, and 1895. In 1892 and 1894, only horse racing was mentioned. Indeed, in 1891, the Arizona Silver Belt reported on the Prescott rodeo, but offered nothing about any Payson event that year--this while the Silver Belt was regularly reporting Payson's daily rainfall totals! (Payson is much closer to Globe than Prescott. Indeed, Payson and Globe are both in Gila County.)

AZ Silver Belt 7/18/1891 Pg. 1

In '92, a man was killed in Payson when one of the race horses dashed into the spectators and landed both front hooves onto his chest, crushing the life from him instantly.

By themselves, these complete lack of mentions would not be conclusive evidence. However, a reason for this deficiency of early newspaper coverage is ultimately explained in the Williams News on August 29, 1930, Page 3:

If the 35th annual Payson rodeo occurred in 1930, then the first occurred in 1896--eight years after the Prescott rodeo began in 1888!

Some have suggested that the reason why Payson's rodeo is the "oldest continuous," is because Prescott skipped at least one during the war years. That claim is simply and wholly untrue.

For the United States, World War 2 began December 7, 1941. Prescott had its usual rodeo in '41, but the first war-time rodeo would have been in 1942.

From July 4th of that year:

July 5th, 1943 describes "the largest crowd in history" attending the rodeo events:

From 1944, "Rodeo thrills crowd":

July 4th 1945:

Perhaps one meant World War 1? (July 28, 1914 to November 11, 1918):

July 8th, 1915

July 5th, 1916

July 4th, 1917

July 10th, 1918

Even during the depths of the Great Depression, it was the Prescott rodeo that "never missed a beat."

July 4th, 1932

In 1933, Will Rogers himself came to Prescott's rodeo:

The true story of Will Rogers' surprise visit to Prescott, Arizona in 1933 to visit Frontier Days.

Indeed, the popularity of Prescott's rodeo only increased during these times of economic strife:

Jul, 4th, 1934

July 3rd, 1935

The fact of the matter is...

Payson's claim relies heavily on oral, not published, history. Newspaper accounts prove that it's the Prescott rodeo that's the world's oldest continuous rodeo. It is Prescott that has "never missed a beat." And Payson's claim to "world's oldest continuous rodeo" could be a potential infraction of trademark laws! More than the mere opinion of Prescott residents, it was the judgement of the US trademark court that Prescott was the first professional, continuous, "World's Oldest Rodeo."

Payson's rodeo website makes one other claim: that it's the "best small town rodeo in the world." While some in Yavapai County would consider this contention equally dubious, it's certainly harder to disprove.

(This author would like to give a "shout-out" to the late Danny Freeman. According to long-time followers of Prescott history, Danny proved this same argument decades ago in his book covering the first 100 years of the World's Oldest Rodeo. Mr. Freeman, who passed away in 2003, is recognized as the authority on the rodeo. Unfortunately his revelations did not cause Payson to change its claim, and this author needed to discover the truth for himself.)

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