Approaching 80 years of local ranching and rodeo tradition, it’s a big February for the Silver Spurs Riding Club.
The winter “Rodeo season” will conclude with the 150th edition of the bi-annual Silver Spurs Rodeo Feb. 17-19. The event that started in the 1940s has come to be known in its circles as, “The largest rodeo east of the Mississippi River.”
The Saturday before, after the traditional Silver Spurs Rodeo Parade through downtown St. Cloud at 10 a.m. (for information, go to www. silverspursrodeo.com/parade), another newer but exciting tradition, the 12th annual Monster Bulls, features the Riding Club’s biggest, baddest and feistiest bull stock to start the rodeo season on Feb. 11. It all happens in the shadow of the Osceola County Fair and Livestock Show next door.
All rodeo tickets include free admission to the Fair. Annual passes, which include all the February fun and the June’s summer rodeo, are available for purchase online at www. SilverSpursRodeo.com.
During the 150th rodeo performances, cowboys from across the country will compete in rodeo’s traditional events: bull riding, bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, women’s barrel racing, steer wrestling, and team roping for a big cash purse.
Come for the rodeo, and stay for the entertainment — the rodeo clowns and and talented Silver Spurs Quadrille team, who perform a square dance on horseback, something the club has performed since its inception, when longtime locals will remember the festivities were held in the “ol’” outdoor rodeo ring.
Clifton Chapman is this year’s rodeo “Big Boss” — the third member of his legacy Osceola County ranching family to hold that one-year title.
“I couldn’t be more honored to be the Big Boss as we celebrate our 150th Silver Spurs Rodeo. For over 79 years, we have been providing family-friendly entertainment while simultaneously supporting our local community and I’m very proud to be a part of that,” Chapman said. “I ask the community to help us do more for Osceola County by coming to support the Monster Bulls and end the week with the big 1-5-0 as we close out with the largest rodeo east of the Mississippi River.”
On Friday the 17th — “Rodeo Day” in Osceola County, a school holiday — and Saturday the 18th, the performances start at 7:30 p.m. The finale on Sunday the 19th shoots out of the stall at 2 p.m.
Per the Riding Club, donations to further support its community efforts are being accepted online. Proceeds will support organizations in Osceola County for scholarships, cancer support, veteran needs, and more. You can go to https://www. silverspursrodeo.com/silverspurs- in-the-community/ to make donations.
The News-Gazette thanks its partners at the Silver Spurs Rodeo for providing information for this story.
