Molalla Buckeroo facts for kids

The Molalla Buckeroo Rodeo is a big annual rodeo event. It takes place in Molalla, Oregon, in the United States. This exciting rodeo happens every year on July 4th.

The Buckeroo's History

The Molalla Buckeroo Rodeo has been happening every year since September 1913. It started when the railroad first came to Molalla. In the early days, local firefighters helped put on the rodeo. They used the money they raised to buy new equipment for their fire department.

In 1923, a group called the Molalla Buckeroo Association was formed. This group then took over running the rodeo. The Buckeroo did not happen in a few years. It was paused during the big sickness in 1917–1918. It also stopped during World War II from 1942–1945. More recently, it was paused in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Why the Buckeroo Exists

The Molalla Buckeroo Association has important goals for the rodeo:

• To help local charities and community groups.
• To create a fun event for families to enjoy together.
• To keep the tradition of rodeo alive, which is a very old part of American history.
• To encourage people to visit Clackamas County and help the area grow.

How the Buckeroo is Organized

The Molalla Buckeroo Rodeo Association is a non-profit group. This means they don't try to make money for themselves. Instead, they use any money raised to support their goals. Over 60 people are active members of this association. All of them are volunteers.

These volunteers manage and produce the yearly Buckeroo event. They also help with other events throughout the year. The Molalla Buckeroo Association is a very important part of the Molalla community.

Who Runs the Show

The main group that leads the Molalla Buckeroo Association is called the Board of Directors. The association's rules allow for up to 50 directors. There are also Honorary members. These are people who used to be regular directors and were chosen for this special status. Honorary members can still help out or just be part of the group. Like the regular directors, Honorary Directors can vote on important decisions.

Associate Members are new people who have joined the association. After at least one year, an Associate Member can be voted in as a Director. This happens when there are open spots on the Board of Directors.

The Buckeroo also has a smaller group called the Executive Committee. This committee has seven members. They are in charge of managing all the different teams and tasks within the organization. The Board of Directors chooses the members of the Executive Committee.

Rodeo Connections

The Molalla Buckeroo Association is a member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA). This means the Molalla Buckeroo is one of the biggest rodeos in the Pacific Northwest. It is also a major event in the Columbia River Circuit of the PRCA. In 2005, the Molalla Buckeroo was even named the Columbia River Circuit Rodeo of the Year.

Besides the big annual PRCA rodeo, the Molalla Buckeroo Association also hosts other events. They hold several Willamette Valley Junior Rodeo Association events. They also host BRN 4D barrel racing competitions.

Rodeo Events

There are seven main events that take place at the Molalla Buckeroo Rodeo. These are exciting competitions where cowboys and cowgirls show off their skills:

• Bareback riding
• Calf roping
• Steer wrestling
• Saddle bronc riding
• Team roping
• Barrel racing
• Bull riding