The largest, most long-standing rodeo in the Four Corners returns from Thursday, June 9, through Saturday, June 11, at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds at 7 each night.
The 81st Ute Mountain Roundup Rodeo will be in full swing inside the Bob Banks Memorial Arena, which the rodeo has called home since 2006.
The Ute Mountain Roundup will welcome hundreds of cowboys and cowgirls to Cortez. This year, the event is expected to rope in more than 400 participants for the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association sanctioned sport. The Ute Mountain Roundup has been a part of the PRCA circuit since 1960, the only major pro sport that comes to Cortez. Many of the participants are familiar faces who hail from across the United States.
Since 1960, the Ute Mountain Roundup has had roughly the same date, the second week in June on Thursday through Saturday, which is something that keeps bringing back some of the best PRCA athletes, said Ute Mountain Roundup chairman Slim McWilliams, of Lewis.
Fans travel from across the globe and temporarily inhabit Montezuma County to see their favorite wranglers, including seven-time PRCA world champion Jake Barnes of Scottsdale, Ariz. The 52-year-old team roper has a sister, Roma, who lives in Cortez.
McWilliams said people from as far as Europe have come to watch the Ute Mountain Roundup, which helps the local community form a financial gain.
They eat, stay in hotels. Their trucks burn a lot of fuel. They buy things in the stores, McWilliams said about rodeo spectators and participants attending the Ute Mountain Roundup. The community has been good to the rodeo, and the rodeo has been good to the community.
Money made by the Ute Mountain Roundup goes toward improving fairgrounds facilities. Athletes will notice a new roping chute and additional pens for bucking stock. Electrical rewiring has been done to the announcers stand, and a new platform for speakers has been installed on the roof of the announcers stand. Fans will see a 1-foot increase to the arena fence for added protection, and concrete aprons are in place for better access on handicap-accessible ramps.
Entry fees by rodeo participants are added to the original purse of $2,425 for the four events. The events are bareback, saddle bronc and bull riding, tie-down roping and steer wrestling, team roping, and barrel racing. The total purse with added money is $16,975.
The childrens mutton bustin and stickhorse events also will take place. Mutton bustin sign-ups are on Saturday, June 4, at the IFA Country Store, located at 10501 U.S. Highway 491. Limited spots are available.
Former pro tie-down roper Jody Carper returns as the announcer. The clown/barrelman will be six-time PRCA Comedy Act of the Year Troy Lerwill, aka The Wild Child.
There will be plenty of athletes on hand, but McWilliams hopes to have at least 25 bareback riders. There is a shortage of bareback riders compared to years past because of the amount of injuries athletes have sustained in what McWilliams calls the most dangerous event.
Honeycutt Rodeo Stock Contractors will be the Ute Mountain Roundup stock contractor, as it has been since 1960.
Ticket prices for Thursday family night four-packs are $25 and $27 at the gate. Advanced two-packs are $15, then $16 and $17 at the gate. Single tickets are $8 in advance, then $9 and $10 at the gate. Parking is $5 for all three days.
Friday and Saturday ticket prices are $11 for an adult in advance, then $12 and $14 at the gate. Childrens tickets (12-under) are $7 in advance, then $8 and $9 at the gate.
Advance tickets can be bought online at www.utemountainroundup.org, or purchased at Citizens State Bank, 77 W. Main St., and at the Citizens State Bank, Walmart branch, and First National Bank, 2258 E. Main St.
The Frazier carnival runs from Wednesday, June 8, through Sunday, June 12, at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds.
Reach Bobby Abplanalp at [email protected].
