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Page 4 Wednesday, April 13, 2011 Red Bluff Daily News How it all started — 90 Round-Ups ago By TANG LOR DN Staff Writer Today’s weeklong celebration of rodeo during the Red Bluff Round-Up has come a long way from what it used to be when the festivities was a play day celebration held in 1918. It’s exciting to reach the 90th year and think only 10 more years until the 100th year, Round-Up Association President Dave Ramelli said. The association has tried to uphold the traditions but kick in some modernization, although not much has changed because rodeos are about tradition. way, but come rodeo week everybody just comes together, and that’s the neat thing about the rodeo,” Ramelli said. “In a way we’re all related to the rural lifestyle, and the rodeo is a good way to experience that cowboy tradition.” The unofficial Round-Up started as a play day for cattlemen who, after their spring round-up of their herds, gathered for a good time at Clough Ranch near Los Molinos. “These days everyone goes their own Of course, everyone knew what was going on, so they brought out their picnic lunches and joined in on the fun, said Kathy Sibert of the Red Bluff Round-Up Association and Round-Up Museum. The first official Red Bluff Round-Up was held in October 1921 in conjunction with the Tehama County Fair in hopes of attracting more people to the fair. In March of 1926, the Red Bluff Round- Up Association held its first two-day rodeo event. The rodeo has been held in the spring time since then. With the exception of no rodeo in 1924 because of a hoof and mouth disease epi- demic, 1933 because of the depression and from 1942 to 1945 because of World War II, there has been a rodeo in Tehama County every year since then. To get people to come to the event, pro- moters organized a caravan that went up and down the length of the county adver- tising the event. The method of caravan advertising was used in the 30s up until through the 60s. Today’s rodeo is held during the third week of April and involves other commu- nity organizations and events including a chili cook-off, parade, pancake breakfast and more. But over the years, as the event expand- ed one thing has not changed. The Round- Up has always been a community event, and the community has always supported it. Tehama County,” Sibert said. “It show- cases Tehama County and Red Bluff, and not just the cattle industry but downtown business and the whole area.” “The Round-Up is the heritage of The event has been and still is a great event for families from all over to come and enjoy a day away from the hustle of the city and celebrate country living. “It’s a way of life that you don’t see much anymore as people have busier lives,” Sibert said. There is no other place more fitting to find Round-Up history or the celebration of rodeo than at the Red Bluff Round-Up Museum. Take time to visit the museum during Round-Up Week or any time of the year. The museum is opened 1 to 5 p.m., Thursday through Saturday.

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