Email
PrintPicturing NFR
Take A Look Back At Some Classic Nfr Moments In Black And White.
Legend has it that rodeo was born on July 4, 1869, when two groups of cowboys from neighboring ranches met in Deer Trail, Colorado, to settle an argument over who was the best at performing everyday ranching tasks. Thousands of rodeos and almost a hundred years later, the National Finals Rodeo was born at the Dallas State Fair Grounds. Considered the brainchild of South Dakota's Casey Tibbs, NFR was created to bring together the world's greatest rodeo athletes and the roughest, toughest livestock. In 1959, the first NFR boasted an impressive roster of famous cowboys, including the legendary Tibbs, Jim Shoulders, Jack Buschbom, Jim Bynum, and Dean Oliver.
Today's professional rodeo cowboy might pocket more in winnings and travel in higher style than his 1800s predecessor and those early NFR stars, but the ideals, showmanship, and hard work remain the same. A cowboy's standing in the rodeo community still depends on his skill with a rope or his ability to ride a bucking animal. And the cowboy code still dictates that a cowboy help his fellow competitors, even though they might be competing for the same paycheck. For more professional rodeo history and information, visit www.prorodeo.com and www.nfrexperience.com. And be sure to check out the ProRodeo Hall of Fame's National Finals Gallery showcasing 50 years' worth of champions at www.prorodeohalloffame.com
