Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/495913
The Red Bluff Round- Up i s known as one of the finest rodeos in the world. It attracts the top ranked contestants, the finest stock and offers a big pay out. Over the years the crowds have grown to the thousands and the rodeo has been nationally recog- nized and televised by ESPN. To truly appreciate the success of today's Round- Up it is important to acknowledge the heritage of the event. It is believed that the first documented rodeo in Tehama County took place at the Clough Ranch out- side of Los Molinos in 1918. A. H. "Allie" Clough invited cowboys from neighboring ranches to picnic and compete at an informal rodeo on his ranch. Word of the competi- tion spread; cowboys and spectators from near and far arrived. Ranch hands tried their luck roping, riding broncs and wild steers for the entertainment of hundreds of guests, some who pitched their tents and stayed for a few days. Clough hired Ty Stokes, an early day rodeo clown, to amuse the crowd. Stokes arrived with his mule. He entertained the crowd with his fancy rop- ing, trick riding and he even entered bronc riding. Among other contestants were Beauford Clark and Ralph Finley. The following year Jess Bennett and Ivy Bell car- ried on the tradition started by Clough. They advertised their event as the Vina Festival, a rodeo with a barbecue and dancing. It is said that 5,000 peo- ple attended the festival. The successes of the Clough Ranch Picnic and the Vina Festival led to the decision to hold a rodeo in conjunction with the Tehama County Fair in 1921. Clough and other Tehama County ranchers and businessmen formed the Red Bluff Round-Up Association. Another rodeo was held in 1922, which was an entertainment success but a financial failure, so the directors decided to cancel the 1923 Red Bluff Round-Up. Due to an epidemic of hoof and mouth disease there was no rodeo in 1924. In 1926 the directors determined a reorganiza- tion was needed and the number of directors was reduced from 16 to five. D.J. Metzger was elect- ed president and Clough vice president. They agreed to move the rodeo to April as a spring Round- Up and they focused on publicity. The ideas of Metzger and Clough paid off as the two-day event hosted more than 10,000 spectators. Apparently it was quite a show, featuring Hollywood trick riders and local talent. Over the years the rodeo evolved to the Round-Up of today. Credit for the success- ful event goes to the many years of hard work and dedication of the many men and women in the community. This year the Red Bluff Round-Up Parade was posthumously dedicated to Clough. The Round-Up was his vision and he gave count- less hours of time and measureless energy to cre- ate an event that has spanned over 94 years. Clough's three living grandchildren, Candace Clough Owens, Nancy Woodward Hartelt and Susan Woodward Pugh will serve as grand mar- shals of the Round-Up Parade in memory of one of the legends of the Red Bluff Round-Up. The Round-Up Parade is scheduled to be held at 10 a.m April 18 in down- town Red Bluff. Wednesday, April 15, 2015 Page 7 Red Bluff Daily News 13111 Baker Road OVER 45 YEARS EXPERIENCE Air Conditioning—Heating— Sheet Metal—Heat Pumps Cal. Lic. #233456 530 527-5828 Parade to honor Round-Up's origin