Frank J. Buchman

Cowboy • Horseman • Writer

Tradition Continues In Cattle Country, The 80th Annual Flint Hills Rodeo At Strong City

The Flint Hills are cattle country.

Where there are cattle, there are cowboys on horseback to take care of them.

The Flint Hills Rodeo will celebrate its 80th anniversary, June 1-2-3, at the arena, much like it’s been for decades, right on Highway 50, at the edge of Strong City.

Cowboy is the profession of many in the Flint Hills, and they’re a competitive bunch.

Who can ride the roughest bucking horse, rope and tie the orneriest critter the fastest? Premise of the sport of rodeo, so what more appropriate locale for rodeo than the Flint Hills.

E.C. Emmett Roberts was a cowboy, non-arguably “the best in the Flint Hills,” eight decades ago.

Never shy in climbing aboard the rankest horse in the pen, or challenging another to cowboy abilities.

Roberts’ rodeo adrenalin carried intensely to his children. The family started a rodeo at their Strong City ranch.

Cowboys local and from miles around came to beat the Roberts bunch. That didn’t happen, and soon the Roberts family went on to become world renowned rodeo champions.

But, the Sunday afternoon Roberts Ranch competitive gathering became an annual attraction, the Flint Hills Rodeo.

“Emmett Roberts and his family are an inspirational story of rodeo success,” said Buck Bailey, president of the Flint Hills Rodeo Association.

“It’s a tradition that’s been carried on with the 80th annual Flint Hills Rodeo, set June 1-2-3, at the arena in Strong City,” Bailey said.

“Traditionally the first weekend in June,” Bailey said, “the Flint Hills Rodeo is the oldest consecutive rodeo in the state of Kansas.”

Billed as “Rodeo at its Best,” the Flint Hills Rodeo is now sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. “We’ll have the best cowboys and cowgirls here, including several present and former world champions,” Bailey said.

First and foremost is the competition featuring bareback and saddle bronc riding competitions, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, team roping, bull riding and barrel racing for the cowgirls.

Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening performances begin at 8 o’clock, with a full slate of attractions for three days.

Future of rodeo is children. “Kids 12 and under will get into Thursday’s performance free,” Bailey said. “The first 200 children in the gates Thursday evening will also get a ticket for a free hotdog.”

There’ll be a kids’ stick horse race, at 6 o’clock, every evening, with a kid’s calf scramble highlighting each performance.

Opening at 5:30 each evening, a Western Trade Show features a wide array of unique ranch-life specialties.

Friday’s performance has been designated Military Appreciation Night, giving free admission for active and retired military persons with identification.

Tough Enough to Wear Pink Night will be Saturday with special acknowledgement of cancer victims and survivors as well as efforts for cancer research. “Many of the contestants and spectators will be wearing pink to show their support,” Bailey said.

Anticipated annual rodeo attraction is the Saturday afternoon parade, beginning 2 o’clock sharp, at Swope Park, in Cottonwood Falls, and concluding at the rodeo grounds. “Everybody’s welcome to come be in the parade, or bring your chair and watch along the route,” Bailey encouraged.

A cowboy-cowgirl dance right at the rodeo grounds will follow both the Friday and Saturday evening performances.

Nightly drawings include Thursday, framed rodeo photo; Friday, guitar signed by Charlie Daniels; and Saturday, rodeo memorial knife handmade by Clay Cooper.

Livestock is key to rodeo, and Cervi Championship Rodeo offers the best, according to Bailey.

“Binion Cervi and Chase Cervi carry on the 60-year family tradition controlling every aspect of the rodeo performance, with the outstanding livestock and unique features,” Bailey said.

Roger Mooney, one of the top professional rodeo announcers in the world, will return to call the Flint Hills action from the back of his black and white Paint Horse called Flash.

Providing smiles and quirks throughout each performance will be John Harrison, the rodeo clown and barrel man.

Additional information is available at www.flinthillsrodeo.org.

World champion cowboys Ken and Gerald Roberts developed rodeo skills nearly-matching those of their all-around-cowboy-dad-rodeo contractor E.C. Emmett Roberts, center. They started championship careers with Sunday afternoon rodeos at their ranch, becoming the Flint Hills Rodeo, the 80th anniversary edition, June 1-2-3, at Strong City.

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