The 2009 Rodeo will mark the 50th running of the rodeo
honoring what historians have described as the birthplace of rodeo — the
once mighty 101 Ranch.
The fabulous 101 Ranch, with a 50-year history both rich and tragic,
influenced Oklahoma and agriculture like no other ranching operation in
the world.
The 101 Ranch, established by Col. George W. Miller in 1879 on the banks
of the Salt Fork River southwest of what is now Ponca City, began with
thousands of acres of land which Miller both leased and purchased from
his friends — the Ponca, Tonkawa and Osage tribes.
The Colonel, who died in 1903 at the age of 61, and the ranch, which was
already successful came into the capable hands of his sons, George, Joe
and Zack.
‘Round-Up’ Was First Rodeo
It was 1905 when the Millers offered to perform what they called a
“round-up” or “buffalo chase” as an entertainment incentive for a
National Editorial Association convention. Visitors were said to come to
the ranch in 30 regular and special trains, and the crowd estimated at
nearly 60,000 was thrilled to the exhibition of cowboys recreating real
life ranch work from bronc riding and roping to Tom Mix’s debut as a
roper and rider.
After years of success as the “101 Ranch Real Wild West and Great Far
East Show” things at the ranch began to crumble in the late 1920s, due
to the deaths of Joe in 1927 and George in 1929.
But the rodeo returned to the Ponca City scene, when the Ponca City
Cherokee Strip Rodeo Committee came up with the idea of having a rodeo
during the Cherokee Strip Celebration in September 1960. By 1962 the
financial success of the Cherokee Strip Rodeo proved that people wanted
the return of a show similar to the 101 Ranch Real Wild West Show.
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101 wild west rodeo history - 1960-1969
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Disclaimer - The information found on these pages is only meant to be a
concise chronological collection of happenings as they relate to each
year's 101 Ranch Rodeo and not a complete or total recreation of each
year's events and/or happenings. If you have additional information
pertaining to the 101 Ranch Rodeo and would like to share it with us and
others that visit this website, please feel free to
submit your information to us and
we will be glad to review it and consider adding it to these pages.
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