Black Hills Roundup Rodeo

On July 4th we drove from Sundance, WY to Belle Fourche, SD for the annual Black Hills Roundup Rodeo.  The day started with a parade...color guard, marching bands, floats, princesses and politicians, farm tractors and fire trucks, and of course HORSES. After the parade, we grabbed some lunch at the local truck stop diner, then headed to the rodeo grounds.

Black Hills Roundup Rodeo is one of the nation's premier rodeo events, with participants from many states.  It is held every July 4th weekend.  In a state where rodeo is probably more popular than football, lots of local champions were present too.

Historically, great herds of cattle were gathered and driven on hoof from the open ranges of the Northern Plains to Belle Fourche for shipping to the east.  The last big cattle roundup was in 1902. Currently a smaller version of a cattle drive is recreated and takes place the weekend of the rodeo.