Fort Madison Rodeo “Is One of His Biggest Stages”
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PenTri-State Rodeo Special City Edition Monday, Current August 21, 2017 | 17 pages | Volume 1 • Issue 201B Fort Madison rodeo “is one of his biggest stages” BY CHUCK VANDENBERG PCC EDITOR It’s one of my FORT MADISON - He’s as well spoken as “ any college history professor you’ll ever find. biggest stages. This is not His voice carries down the bluff to the people of Fort Madison sitting in their lawn chairs a small deal. This thing has on warm summer nights, while throngs street cred. It’s up there with cheer in the stands of Fort Madison’s Tri- State Rodeo. Cheyenne, Calgary, San Anto- nio and Houston.” Boyd Polhamus has been Master of Ceremo- nies for the Tri-State Rodeo since 2000. A -Boyd Polhamus, man who’s done the Calgary Stampede, and Tri-State Rodeo MC the youngest ever to do the National Finals Rodeo at the age of 25, will return as the announcer of the rodeo again this year. “It’s one of my biggest stages,” Polhamus said. “This is not a small deal. This thing has street The rodeo action kicks off this year on cred. It’s up there with Cheyenne and Cal- Wednesday, Sept. 6 and runs through the 9th gary, San Antonio and Houston. Is the city as at the C.E. “Eddie” Richards Arena in Rodeo large or venue as big - absolutely not. But you Park. can play The Masters on any course you want - it’s still The Masters. If you want to make it Polhamus said despite the larger world ven- to the national finals, you come through Fort ues he’s announced at, Fort Madison is one of Madison.” the biggest events he works. See BOYD, page B13 Tri-State Rodeo Special Edition Advertisers Brad’s Pad Pizza .......................P.10 KLM Realty ................................P.14 Dave’s Old Fashion Meats ..........P.7 Lee County Bank .......................P.16 Dollhouse Dreams .......................P.6 Lee County Health Dr. Mark C. 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P.11 West Point Care Center .............P.17 Hope Associates Real Estate ....P.13 Your Heat & Air guy ...................P.10 Kempker’s True Value Rental ......P.4 B2 - Pen City Current - Tri-State Rodeo Edition - Monday, Aug. 21, 2017 Tri-State 70th rodeo annual September 6-9, 2017 Fort Madison, IA Wed., Sept. 6 CINCH Shootout The best cowboys in the country competing for $120,000 in prize money Thur., Sept. 7 Fri., Sept. 8 Sat., Sept. 9 PRCA PRCA PRCA Rodeo Action Rodeo Action Rodeo Action followed by with followed by Cody Johnson Smash Mouth Jon Pardi Country Artist rocking the stage Award-winning country star Get Your Tickets Now Or call 800-369-3211 at www.tristaterodeo.org or 319-372-2550 or click this ad Pen City Current - Tri-State Rodeo Edition - Monday, Aug. 21, 2017 - B3 2017 Tri-State Rodeo Special Edition Gene Autry sang at Fort Madison’s first rodeo 1948 was first rodeo started king Jimmy Dean was the star in 1971 and then 14 year old Tanya Tucker garnered top billing to replace railroad picnic in 1973. As times continued to change, so did the rodeo. Autry’s company no longer moved its livestock by rail. By 1974, the Santa Fe stockyards Courtesy of Tri-State Rodeo were gone and new pens in Rodeo Park allowed The year was 1948 and Fort Madison was about all of the animals to be kept there. to lose their biggest annual event, a Labor Day parade and picnic sponsored by the railroad’s Colorado rancher Mike Cervi became the rodeo’s craft unions; with the introduction of diesel loco- producer in 1975 and his Cervi Championship motives and a resulting decrease in the number Rodeo Company continues to supply the live- of employees needed at the shops, the parade and stock to this day. picnic began to fade. Pre-rodeo week was expanded in 1984 with help Enter Santa Fe Railroad telegrapher Robert Wilk- from local industries. For the first time, purchase en, cowboy singer Gene Autry and banker C.E. of a button served as the admission to barbecue “Eddie” Richards. Richards was installed as Fort and chili suppers, a country concert and dances. Madison Chamber of Commerce president on January 1, 1948, and immediately started looking Big national sponsors have added to the prize for something big enough to replace the Labor money available to the Professional Rodeo Cow- Day events. His father-in-law, Wilken had an son Square Garden event saw such advance ticket boys Association and Women’s Professional idea. He knew Autry’s livestock had to be rested sales; Autry himself was the featured entertainer. Rodeo Association competitors. First designated during the long train ride from Texas to Madison one of ten stops on the Winston Tour in 1985, Square Garden in New York City. Wilken was a From the first year, a parade was part of the rodeo the Tri-State Rodeo today is backed by a number big rodeo fan, and knew Autry’s cattle and horses activities. Pre-rodeo events were introduced in of national sponsors including Coors Brewing had been making an overnight stay in Fort Mad- 1949. The rodeo grew, improvements were made Company, Jack Daniels Distillery, Justin Boots, ison each of the ten prior years. The negotiations at Rodeo Park and in 1959 a new event-women’s Wrangler and Dodge. The rodeo was broadcast began and by September of 1948 Fort Madison barrel racing- was added. A fly-in breakfast at the on the ESPN2 cable network in 2001 as part of had its first rodeo. municipal airport also began that year. Television the Wrangler Summer Tour, but was considered cameras arrived in 1963, when ABC television too far east for a return engagement. Organizers realized that Ivanhoe Park, where network filmed part of the parade and rodeo for the Santa Fe picnic had always been held, wasn’t the network’s “Wide World of Sports”. In 1968, Since 2000 the Tri-State Rodeo has been named going to be big enough for the rodeo. Land pur- several bleacher sections were removed and the as one of the nation’s top five large outdoor rode- chased then from the Geisen family and the Iowa arena was reduced to a more practical size for os and continues to rank first among rodeos in State Penitentiary became the heart of today’s the Rodeo. A rodeo queen contest was part of the the Great Lakes Circuit and in 2001 ranked 43rd Rodeo Park, which is now called C.E. “Eddie” first event, but it wasn’t until 1982 that the Miss among the nation’s more than 700 sanctioned Richards Arena. A contract with Autry’s compa- Rodeo Iowa pageant was moved from Sidney to PRCA events. No other rodeo east of Kansas City, ny stipulated that a rodeo corporation had to be Fort Madison. Missouri ranked higher. formed and that an arena with a capacity of at least 10,000 seats had to be provided. Volunteers Hollywood cowboys were replaced by Nashville The Tri-State Rodeo continues to attract the na- did both, raising $100,000 and setting up a grand- singers as the headline entertainers starting in tion’s top cowboys, with competition spread over stand in the summer of that first year. The first 1971. While performers like Michael Landon four nights the first week in September and big rodeo was a sellout, surprising Autry’s business and Fess Parker had been featured throughout name musicians headlining the Friday and Satur- manager, who remarked that not even the Madi- the ‘50’s and ‘60’s, country crooner and sausage day night performances. Welcome Rodeo Fans! Kick up your Boots & Enjoy the Rodeo! We Place People First SOUTHEAST IOWA’S MOST EXCLUSIVE GIFT SHOP Welcome Cowboys & Cowgirls! located in Historic Downtown Fort Madison! Celebrating 40 Years in Business Exquisite Floral Designs Home & Seasonal Decor Fine Gifts • Wall Art We welcome you to stop by Decorative Accessories and say “Hi” during your Jewelry & Scarves visit to Ft. Madison! Gourmet Food • Coffee Chocolates • Wine Team Staffing is proud to & So Much More! support the local New Fall Merchandise Free Gift Arriving Daily! Wrapping! Tri-State Area Rodeo! 739 Avenue G • Ft. Madison www.teamssi.com (319) 372-2828 319-246-1294 5025 River Valley Road Monday - Saturday • 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM 4502 Avenue O Fort Madison, IA. 52627 Final Sales Going on Now at The Avenue Ft. Madison, Ia (319) 372-8611 in Downtown Ft. Madison! Like Us On Facebook! Like Us On FACEBOOK!!! www.sunnybrookftmadison.com B4 - Pen City Current - Tri-State Rodeo Edition - Monday, Aug. 21, 2017 2017 Tri-State Rodeo Special Edition 2017 Tri-State Rodeo Schedule of Events All Pre-Rodeo events are free with Rodeo Button Tuesday, September 5, 2017 12:00 p.m – 2:00 p.m.