Red Bluff
Issue link: http://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/25811
20 RED BLUFF 2011 Alittle Round-Up history... ALittle Round-Up History 1918 Clough Ranch Picnic – Tehama County’s First Recorded Rodeo Imagine Tehama County cattlemen and their hands gathering together after the spring round-up of their herds to hold a picnic and informal rodeo. The first of its kind was held in 1918 at the A.H. Clough Ranch in Los Molinos and drew a crowd from far and near. The cowhands tried their luck at riding saddle broncs and wild steers, bulldogging and roping contests. In 1919, Jess Bennett and Ivy Bell, who ran a cattle ranch near Vina, decided to have an informal bronc riding and roping contest on their ranch. The event was so successful, it was followed by the Vina Festival in 1920. That same year, a group of ranchers and businessmen from Red Bluff and Chico started the Northern California Round-Up Association. The First Red Bluff Round-Up After the success of a spring Northern California Round-Up held in Deer Creek, it was decided to form a Red Bluff Round- Up Association and hold a rodeo during the Tehama County Fair in October. With 12 events scheduled for the track and infield and 7,000 in attendance, this rodeo still proved to be a financial flop. The Board of Directors decided to hold another rodeo the following September. This event also proved a financial liability, so no rodeo was held in 1923. In 1924, a hoof and mouth disease epidemic can- celed all rodeos. The Northern California Round-Up Association held its last rodeo in 1925. In March of 1926, the Red Bluff Round- Up Association decided to reorganize and hold a two-day spring show. Thanks in part to the efforts of traveling advertising man Don Tait (a.k.a. Montana Red), the 1926 rodeo hosted over 10,000 in atten- dance. “I’ve ridden at Pendelton, Salinas, Cheyenne and many big shows in the country — talk about salty birds and rough bronc rules,” a 1926 rodeo contestant is recorded as saying. “You fellows have them all in one bunch. You have every bit as much, if not better, than those other shows.” The Caravan Carries the Message In 1928, the rodeo committee formed its own publicity caravan which consisted of 50 cars. They drove down the west side to Corning, Orland and Willows and came back on the east side of the Sacramento River through Hamilton City and Chico. In the first caravan, led by Undersheriff Information provided by the Red Bluff Round-Up Association from the book “75 Years of Rodeo.” The book is for sale for $15 at the Round-Up Museum. A check or money order can be sent to: “75 Years of Rodeo”, c/o Red Bluff Round-Up Museum, PO Box 1028, Red Bluff, CA, 96080. Please remember to include your name and address. The book is also avail- able at the Red Bluff Round-Up Office on Antelope Boulevard at the Tehama District Fairground. More information is available at 527-1000. Walter Williams, the car’s screeching siren led the way along with a saddle over the hood for Mike Fish to ride on. Megaphone in hand, Fish would climb on the “hurri- cane deck” to make his announcements while, at the end of the caravan, 49 cars back, he would be echoed by another megaphone. This caravan effort would continue throughout the 1960s. Because of the depression, no rodeo was held in 1933. Also, World War II can- celed the 1942-45 rodeos. However, in all other years, the Red Bluff Round-Up has prevailed. -------