CROOKED RIVER ROUNDUP RODEO & HORSE RACES

In Crook County, the Cowboy Capital of Oregon, we celebrate our western heritage and lifestyle in a big way. Held annually in June and July at the Crook County Fairgrounds in Prineville, the Crooked River Roundup Association puts on two separate events that include a PRCA-sanctioned rodeo and the largest parimutuel horse races in the State of Oregon.

“It is such an honor to be a part of the history that is the Crooked River Roundup. It was only a short time ago that my husband and I would bring our young family to the Sunday matinee perfs after church. Hot summer Sundays, plywood stick-horses, 3 little girls and 2 toddler boys in the stroller. Participating in this Prineville tradition is just as much a blessing now as it was then. Our daughter Emily wore the Queen’s crown in 2020 and 21, my youngest daughter has sung the anthem at the races, and both boys, now young men, have volunteered for both events for the last few years. Similar stories are represented all over the grounds come Roundup time. What an amazing thing it has been to watch family traditions become a community’s heritage.

~Laura McDaniel, President of the all-volunteer Crooked River Roundup Association.