Cattlemen’s Days

2025 PRCA RODEO
July 10th, 11th, 12th, 2025

125 Years Strong!

Cattlemen’s Days is the longest running rodeo in Colorado and the 4th longest in the country.

Each year Gunnison Cattlemen’s Days celebrates the rich history and traditions of the ranching culture. In July, this tradition puts on the “Granddaddy of Colorado Rodeos”, an event staged by our committee, volunteers, and the community for Professional Rodeo Cowboys and Cowgirls and the people who love to watch them.

Sponsorship Info

Schedule

Cattlemen’s Days Events: Cattlemen’s Days Rodeos, 4-H & FFA, Watershed, Horse Show, Parade, and Carnival dates.

Tickets

Step right up and get your Cattlemen’s Days Tickets! Online and in-person options. Carnival info. Tickets go on sale in June.

Parade Entries

Join the fun! Enter your float or group in the Cattlemen’s Days Parade. Entries open in May.

Vendors

Vendors, sell your goods at Cattlemen’s Days. Click here for an application and information.

Thank You Sponsors!

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2023 PRCA Results

Keeping Tradition Alive

Cattlemen’s Days Rodeo

125 Years Strong

Cattlemen's Days Logo Welcome to the 2025 Cattlemen’s Days Rodeo, the longest continuous rodeo in Colorado and the fourth longest in the nation. From rodeo in the streets in 1900 to the present fairgrounds, we are proud to put on the best showcase of the rich Western history and traditions that made the Gunnison Valley what it is today. From our dynamic 4H programs, horse shows, entertainment, and parade all the way through the best PRCA rodeo around, Gunnison is the place to be in July! Nationally recognized as a Top 5 Medium-sized rodeo, Cattlemen’s Days Rodeo brings in the very best cowboys and cowgirls each and every year. Our award-winning announcer, stock contractor, comedy acts, and others, work together to bring a show you do not want to miss. We are proud to present 3 nights of rodeo celebrating The Golden Circle of Champions on Thursday, our Patriot Night Rodeo on Friday, and the Ranchland Conservation Legacy Rodeo on Saturday. We couldn’t do this without our amazing rodeo committee, countless volunteers, and a very supportive community. These volunteers work tirelessly to provide the best experience for all.

I encourage you to make plans to be in Gunnison in July to be a part of our 125^th Cattlemen’s Days Celebration!

Brad Tutor
President
Gunnison Cattlemen’s Days Rodeo

PARADE ENTRIES

Join the Fanfare!

Click here for the parade entry form, times, and regulations.

HORSE SHOW

84 Years of Horsemanship

Put your skills to the test in the Open Horse Show. Click here for an entry form, fee information, classes, and deadline dates.

ROYALTY

Cattlemen’s Days Ambassadors

Meet our Queen and her court. Serving as the public face of Cattlemen’s Days 4-H and PRCA rodeo contestants & spectators.

VENDORS

Sell your goods at Cattlemen’s Days.

See our vendor information, map, and fill out an application.

Bull Riding

There is no more exciting and dangerous rodeo event than bull riding. The cowboy tries to ride a spinning and bucking 2,000-pound bull for 8 seconds. He only gets a flat braided rope in hand and his courage and strength to hold tight.

Rodeo Clowns & Entertainment

You can bet that our rodeo clowns will entertain the crowd, but did you know that they also keep the riders safe? They distract the bull from a fallen rider until the cowboy gets to safety.

Team Roping

This is the only event in rodeo where two cowboys compete together. The header ropes the steer by the horns, then dallies his rope around his saddle horn to turn the steer to the left. The heeler then ropes the back feet. The event is scored by speed.

Bareback and Saddle Bronc Riding

Watch elite athletes ride twisting and bucking horses. Bareback Riding takes strength and skill as the cowboy tries to ride for 8 seconds. Saddle Bronc Riding uses a special saddle. The cowboy rides for 8 seconds and cannot touch the horse or his equipment with his free hand during the ride. Style counts.

Barrel Racing

A favorite event of rodeo fans! The rider and her American Quarter Horse race into the arena at over 40 miles per hour. They perform a cloverleaf pattern around 3 steel barrels. Overturning a barrel results in a penalty. Fastest time wins.

Cattlemen's Days 4-H Events

Bring the whole family to see the huge assortment of 4-H projects ranging from animal projects to cake decorating, STEM, and rocketry. 4-H animal projects include showing horses, dogs, rabbits, poultry, swine, market sheep, goats, and cattle. Kids compete in showmanship and demonstrate their knowledge. Support 4-H at the Livestock Buyers Auction!

Watershed Events

Join the fun by competing or cheering on our local cowboys and cowgirls as they participate in watershed events. Ranch Rodeo, Ranch Sort, Barrel Races, and Team Roping.

Cattlemen’s Days, a Rich Gunnison Valley Tradition

The rodeo started out in the 1800’s between spring calving and summer haying, a time when area ranchers took a break to test their skills with riding and roping contests on Main Street. In the early years, the event added horse races and tried out various names such as Pioneer Days and the Helldorado Stampede. By 1901, the celebration came under the sponsorship of the Gunnison Valley Stockgrowers Association and the rodeo officially adopted the name “Cattlemen’s Days.”

Between 1913 and 1928, the rodeo and race events moved to the campus of Colorado Normal School, now Western State Colorado University, using the school’s track and stands. The celebration moved back downtown from 1929 to 1936. When the Cattlemen’s Days Association was created, it built facilities at the current site.

Check out the Gunnison County Library’s archive of Cattlemen’s Days memorabilia.

Historical Cattlemen' s Days on Main Street

Cattlemen’s Days
The Granddaddy of Colorado Rodeos
By Doug and Mary Lou Nemanic

Historical Cattlemen's Days Eileen McCartney 1950 Sweetheart of the Rodeo sent in by granddaughter Megan

Historical Cattlemen's Days Cowboys and Horses

What’s Your Cattlemen’s Days Story?

Cattlemen’s Days has been a big part of Gunnison heritage for 125 years. We are looking for historical photos, videos, and personal recollections of past Cattlemen’s Days events to feature on this website and social media. There is so much to share! Were you in the parade? Did you or your kids participate in 4-H events? Did you watch friends compete? We want to hear about it! Use our contact form to share your story.

2025 Cattlemen's Days

There may be changes to the schedule.

FRI, JUNE 27 - 9:00 AM, 4-H Horse Show

SAT, JUNE 28 - 9:00 AM, District 4-H Horse Show

SUN, JUNE 29 - 9:00 AM, District 4-H Horse Show

JULY 2-5 - Carnival at the Fairgrounds

THU, JULY 3 - Mini Broncs and Mutton Busting

SAT, JULY 5 - 1:30 PM, Ranch Rodeo

SUN, JULY 6 - 8:00 AM, Open Horse Show

MON, JULY 7 - Cattle Drive Event

MON, JULY 7 - 8:30 - 11 AM, General Project Judging & Interviews (Concrete Room)

MON, JULY 7 - 9:00 AM, 4-H Dog Show

MON, JULY 7 - 6:30 PM, General Project Review/Awards (Concrete Room)

TUES, JULY 8 - 5:00 PM, Watershed Team Roping & Barrel Racing

WED, JULY 9 - 8:30 AM, 4-H Rabbit & Poultry Show (Rubber Room)

WED, JULY 9 - 2nd Annual Cattlemen's Days Golf Tournament

THU, JULY 10 - 9:00 AM, PRCA Rodeo Slack Events

THU, JULY 10 - 10:00 AM, 4-H & FFA Swine Show (Rubber Room)

THU, JULY 10 - 2:30 PM, 4-H & FFA Sheep Show (Rubber Room)

THU, JULY 10 - 6:45 PM, PRCA Golden Circle of Champions Rodeo

FRI, JULY 11 - 8:30 AM, 4-H & FFA Goat Show (Rubber Room)

*FRI, JULY 11 - 10:30 AM, 4-H & FFA Cattle Show (Rubber Room)

FRI, JULY 11 - 1:30 PM, Round Robin Showmanship (Competition between Showmanship winners of each animal species)

FRI, JULY 11 - 6:45 PM, PRCA Patriot Night Rodeo

SAT, JULY 12 - 10:00 AM, Cattlemen's Days Parade

AT, JULY 12 - 12:30 PM, Buyer BBQ (Rubber Room), $20 per person at the door

SAT, JULY 12 - 1:30 PM, Junior Livestock Auction (Rubber Room)

SAT, JULY 12 - 6:45 PM, PRCA Gunnison Ranchland Conservation Legacy Rodeo

SUN, JULY 13 - 9:00 AM, Cowboy Church at the Fairgrounds

See full Schedule

Printable Schedule of Events (PDF) Coming Soon

Drop Us a Line

Don't be shy. Let us know if you have any questions!