Silver Spurs Rodeo

{{Short description|Biannual rodeo in Kissimmee, Florida}} thumb|right|Silver Spurs Rodeo The '''Silver Spurs Rodeo''' is a rodeo held twice per year in Kissimmee, Florida. During the late 1980s, it was one of the fifty largest rodeos in the United States,<ref name=OS3>{{cite news |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1988/02/14/rodeo-purse-rises-at-kissimmee-silver-spurs/ |title=Rodeo Purse Rises At Kissimmee Silver Spurs |newspaper=Orlando Sentinel |date=February 1988 |access-date=May 20, 2011}}</ref> and is billed as the largest rodeo east of the Mississippi River.<ref name=OS4 /> Since 1994, it has been the official state rodeo of Florida.<ref name=FlStat>{{cite web |url=http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0000-0099/0015/Sections/0015.0391.html |title=Florida Statutes, Title IV, 15.0391 Official state rodeo |publisher=The Florida Legislature |access-date=May 20, 2011}}</ref>

==History== In 1941, the Silver Spurs Riding Club was formed in Kissimmee. In 1944, at the height of World War II, the Riding Club sponsored a rodeo to encourage local citizens to purchase war bonds.<ref name=OBJ>{{cite news |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/stories/1997/02/24/story7.html |title=Silver Spurs Rodeo: Riding high after 53 years |publisher=Orlando Business Journal |last=Byrd |first=Alan |date=February 24, 1997 |access-date=May 20, 2011}}</ref> The first rodeo was held on July 4, 1944,<ref name=OS1>{{cite news |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1988/02/14/silver-spurs-rodeo-rides-on-tradition/ |title=Silver Spurs Rodeo Rides On Tradition |last=Carroll |first=Frank |newspaper=Orlando Sentinel |date=February 14, 1988 |access-date=May 20, 2011}}</ref> and in 1951, a February event was added to the calendar.<ref name=OS1 />

The February rodeo is important enough to the region's self-image that it is a school holiday (for teachers and for students) throughout the county. The holiday is named “Rodeo Day”, and is traditionally the third Friday in February, coinciding with the Silver Spurs Rodeo, and is recognized in place of Presidents' Day or Washington’s Birthday in the School District of Osceola County, which is a school holiday on the third Monday of February in most other school districts in the United States. The earliest official mention of Rodeo Day occurred in 1953. The tradition began after school officials observed students taking time off to attend the rodeo.<ref name=OS2>{{cite news |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2010/01/10/a-bargain-to-see-bucking-broncs-at-silver-spurs-rodeo/ |title=A bargain to see bucking broncs at Silver Spurs Rodeo |newspaper=Orlando Sentinel |last=Abbott |first=Jim |date=January 11, 2010 |access-date=May 20, 2011}}</ref>

The first rodeo was held on land donated by Henry O. Partin, a legendary rancher in Kissimmee who, at one point in time, owned 60,000 acres of land in Osceola County. In 1949, the Riding Club bought a 15-acre parcel of land (to which they added an additional 7.5 acres the following year), and built a stadium, stands, and a concession area.<ref name=OS1 /> In 2003, the club built a new indoor stadium, the Silver Spurs Arena, which features luxury seats and bar service.<ref name=OS5>{{cite news |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2004/02/20/silver-spurs-rodeo-back-at-kissimmee/ |title=Silver Spurs Rodeo Back At Kissimmee |newspaper=Orlando Sentinel |last=Berlincke |first=Jeff |date=February 20, 2004 |access-date=May 20, 2011}}</ref>

During the late 1980s, the rodeo was one of the fifty largest rodeos in the United States, with a purse of approximately US$60,000.<ref name=OS3 /> By 2005, however, attendance at had dropped slightly,<ref name=OS4>{{cite news |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2005/02/18/back-in-the-saddle-3/ |title=Back in the Saddle: Even As Osceola County Changes Dramatically, Cracker Cowboy Culture Goes On, Epitomized By Silver Spurs. |newspaper=Orlando Sentinel |last=Jacobson |first=Susan |date=February 18, 2005 |access-date=May 20, 2011}}</ref> and as of 2009, the purse had declined to approximately $50,000.<ref name=ONG>{{cite news |url=http://aroundosceola.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4125%3Asilver-spurs-rodeo-takes-center-stage-at-heritage-park-tonight-and-sunday&Itemid=60 |title=Silver Spurs Rodeo takes center stage at Heritage Park tonight and Sunday |publisher=Osceola News-Gazette |last=Pedone |first=Rick |date=June 5, 2009 |access-date=May 20, 2011}}</ref> The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association does not list the Silver Spur Rodeo in their top 50 rodeo listing for 2009.<ref name=PRCA>{{cite web |url=http://www.prorodeo.com/media/2010pdfs/04Stats243-310.pdf |title=Top 50 2009 Rodeos by committee purse |publisher=Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association |page=254 |access-date=May 20, 2011}}</ref> As the demographics of the region change, with more Hispanic residents moving into the area, the rodeo has moved to increase its appeal to the new residents; it held its first Latin rodeo in 2005, weaving salsa and hip-hop music into its traditional events.<ref name=OS4 />

In 1994, the Silver Spurs Rodeo was designated as the Official State Rodeo by the Florida Legislature.<ref name=FlStat />

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.silverspursrodeo.com Official site for Silver Spurs Rodeo]

Category:Rodeos Category:Symbols of Florida Category:Kissimmee, Florida Category:1944 establishments in Florida