The Eagle Rodeo has been around for over 17 amazing years. Each summer, local volunteers gather to put on the three day event full of action packed country fun. This last year the lease expired, and rather than giving up on this annual tradition, they packed up the whole place and moved it six miles away. Although that may sound like an easy feat, this took a whole year of planning and over 60 volunteers. Lucky for us they caught the whole thing on film!
“Best Small Town Throwdown Rodeo” is the title of this documentary made about the incredible story of moving the Eagle Rodeo. Tracy Baggerly is the woman who made the Eagle Rodeo a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association sanctioned event. She gathered the troops and they went to backbreaking work to relocate from the rodeo’s home of 17 years. They found a plot over next to Avimor up highway 55 which was just six miles from it’s original location. They contracted with sponsors, removed rocks, broke up ground, hauled dirt, sand and soil. Then once the land was prepped, they assembled bleachers, corrals, chutes and tents to set the stage. Finally they coordinted with vets, animal handlers, caterers and all the people who make the rodeo happen year after year.
The last step in their adventure was advertisement. They hoped that it would be enough to draw a crowd to their first rodeo at it’s new spot. Hope Manna was the film maker who was inspired by the idea to move the entire rodeo. She took hours of raw film against the wind, rain, mud, tractors, animals and unruly weather. Overall she admits it was the most fun she’s had on set. The documentary made it’s grand debut at the Egyptian Theater on June 2. Their story can be found on Instagram and Facebook at the handle @BestSmallTownThrowdownRodeo.
This year’s rodeo schedule is looking promising!
June 5th – Free Family Slack Night starting at 7:30 with PRCA Slack Events
June 6th – Military night, free ticket for kids under 12 with a paid general admission ticket
June 7th – Tough Enough to Wear Pink – Eagle rodeo’s cancer awareness night
June 8th – Burnout Red night – wear red!
The 6th through the 8th follow the same schedule. 6pm starts with the PreRodeo complete with mutton busting, calf riding, youth steer riding and jr. barrels. Following the PreRodeo is the PRCA Rodeo which is the main rodeo event full of all the classic rodeo events of bull riding, bucking horses and excitement!
I hope to see you there!
-Alei
