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New Mexico Rodeos

You’re headed to New Mexico to experience the Southwest. The famous New Mexico chile, stunning vistas, beautiful sunsets, Navajo art, and more.

What else could help make your trip to New Mexico memorable? A rodeo.

Fortunately, you can find rodeos in major destinations throughout the summer.

Gallup Rodeos

Gallup is a great destination if you’re visiting New Mexico. It’s on Historic Route 66, so you’ll get to drive on that old highway. It’s also near the Navajo Reservation, so you can learn more about Navajo culture, art, history, and traditions.

Adding to its appeal, Gallup also hosts four rodeos: Red Rock Classic USTRC Team Roping Qualifier, Gallup Lions Club Rodeo, Best of the Best Rodeo, and Wildthing Championship Bullriding.

Red Rock Classic USTRC Team Roping Qualifier

In early June, watch teams rope calves to see who qualifies for further competition in United States Team Roping Championships (USTRC) events. 

The USTRC sanctions competitions and manages the National Finals of Team Roping every year.

Gallup Lions Club Rodeo

In the middle of June, the Gallup Lions Club hosts a three-day rodeo. For adults, it’s an open rodeo with barrel racing, bull riding, steer wrestling, bareback riding, roping events, and more.

Supporting the next generation of rodeo stars, the Gallup Lions Club Youth and Open Show Rodeo also offers youth events, including steer-riding, goat tying, calf riding, barrel racing, etc.

Best of the Best Rodeo

The Best of the Best Rodeo is a competition for junior high and high school students. Events include barrel racing, steer wrestling, pole bending, and other roping events.

Wildthing Championship Bullriding

Hosted in mid-July, Wildthing Championship Bullriding is a major open bull riding event in the Southwest. This event is all bull riding, so you’ll see one of the most exciting and dangerous rodeo events.

It’s also a fundraiser for the Manuelito Children’s Home.

New Mexico State Fair Rodeo

In September, you can enjoy the New Mexico State Fair and rodeo performances in Albuquerque. You can watch barrel racing, PRCA Xtreme Bulls, and a PRCA Rodeo. 

Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) is one of the biggest rodeo associations. It sanctions rodeos across the country and hosts finals annually in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Perhaps the best part is that many of these rodeo events at the state fair are accompanied by a concert.

Rodeo de Santa Fe

Rodeo de Santa Fe began in 1949. Over its over half a century history, it has grown to attract hundreds of cowboys and cowgirls each year. Even World Champion Cowboys and Cowgirls compete at Rodeo de Santa Fe.

Kids can also participate in Rodeo de Santa Fe in Mutton Bustin’ and barrel races.

Held at the end of June, Rodeo de Sante Fe is also part of the PRCA.

Lea County Fair and Rodeo

In the beginning of August, the Lea County Fair and Rodeo is another great option. You can see Xtreme Bulls, team roping, and a PRCA rodeo. It also hosts mutton bustin’ for kids.

If you can’t attend the rodeo in person, you can check it out on the Cowboy Channel.

Beyond experiencing a rodeo, the Lea County Fair and Rodeo offers a Hispanic Heritage Celebration and a concert series.

4th of July Maverick Club Rodeo

You’ll see roping, barrel racing, bull riding, wild cow milking, and wild horse racing at the 4th of July Maverick Club Rodeo. 

The 4th of July Maverick Club Rodeo started in 1923 and has been held annually since then. It’s the longest running open rodeo in the Western United States.

Chama Days

Held in August, Chama Days celebrates the community’s Western Heritage. It hosts an open rodeo as part of the festivities. You can also participate in dances, softball tournaments, and more. If you’re near Chama in August, check out Chama Days.

Smokey Bear Stampede

At the beginning of July, you can experience wonderful rodeo performances in Capitan. You can see ranch rodeo performances in the early afternoon and enjoy the nightly rodeo in the evening. There’s also a rodeo dance and free concerts after the nightly rodeo performances.

Hidalgo County Fair

At the Hidalgo County Fair in August, you can enjoy several different types of rodeos. You can see a junior rodeo, ranch rodeo, stick horse rodeo, and a professional rodeo. You can also participate in Cowboy Church on Sunday.

Bean Day Celebration

At the end of August and the beginning of September, you can enjoy Bean Day festivities in Wagon Mound. This celebration is over a century old, so it’s a long-standing Wagon Mound tradition. You can enjoy food trucks, mud bog racing, corn hole, dancing, a parade, a car and truck show, horseshoe pitching, a veterans memorial, and even a rodeo.

New Mexico Rodeo Associations

The New Mexico Rodeo Association (NMRA) sanctions rodeos that occur during the months between July to October. It has hundreds of members, including contractors, cowboys, cowgirls, directors, rodeo committee members, and others. 

It even has an alliance with the World Champions Rodeo Alliance (WCRA) that makes it easier for NMRA contestants to compete in WCRA rodeo events.

The All Indian Rodeo Cowboys Association (AIRCA) started in 1957. It is the oldest Indian rodeo association and hosts rodeos in New Mexico and Arizona.

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