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Page 4 Wednesday, April 18, 2012 Red Bluff Daily News 91 rodeos and still going By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer The Red Bluff Round- Up, which celebrates 91 years in 2012, has come a long way from its humble beginnings as an informal rodeo during a picnic at the A.H. Clough Ranch in 1918. While there were rodeos between 1918 and 1920, the first official Red Bluff Round-Up was held in October 1921 in conjunc- tion with the Tehama Coun- ty Fair in hopes of attract- ing more people to the fair, according to the book Red Bluff Round-Up Associa- tion 75 years by Round-Up Director George Froome. In March of 1926, the business and the whole area." To get people to come to the event in the early days, promoters organized a cara- van that went up and down the length of the county advertising the event. The method of caravan adver- tising was used in the 1930s up until the 1960s. Today's rodeo is held during the third week of April and involves other community organizations and events. Red Bluff Round-Up Asso- ciation held its first two- day rodeo event. The rodeo has been held in the spring time since then. With the exception of no rodeo in 1924 because of a hoof and mouth disease epidemic, 1933 because of the depression and from 1942 to 1945 because of World War II, there has been a rodeo in Tehama County every year since then, Froome said. "The Round-Up is the heritage of Tehama Coun- ty," Kathy Sibert of the Red Bluff Round-Up Associa- tion and Round-Up Muse- um said. "It's a way of life that you don't see much anymore as people have busier lives. It showcases Tehama County and Red Bluff, and not just the cattle industry but downtown Host Hotel 530.529.7060 "These days everyone goes their own way, but come rodeo week every- body just comes together, and that's the neat thing about the rodeo," Round- Up Association President Dave Ramelli said. "In a way we're all related to the rural lifestyle, and the rodeo is a good way to experience that cowboy tra- dition." While the event has expanded over the years to a three-day rodeo with a total of 11 days of events attached to it, one thing has not changed. The Round- Up has always been a com- munity event, and the com- munity has always support- ed it. From decorating con- tests and the chili cook-off to a pancake breakfast there are several activities for community members and visitors alike to enjoy. For a schedule of events see page 2 of the Round-Up Tab. For those interested in seeing the Round-Up histo- ry or the celebration of rodeo the place to see is the Red Bluff Round-Up Museum, which is open during Round-Up Week or any time of the year from 1 to 5 p.m., Thursday through Saturday.

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