TheSilver Spurs Rodeo is arodeo held twice per year inKissimmee,Florida. During the late 1980s, it was one of the fifty largest rodeos in the United States,[1] and is billed as the largest rodeo east of theMississippi River.[2] Since 1994, it has been the official state rodeo of Florida.[3]
In 1941, the Silver Spurs Riding Club was formed in Kissimmee. In 1944, at the height ofWorld War II, the Riding Club sponsored a rodeo to encourage local citizens to purchasewar bonds.[4] The first rodeo was held on July 4, 1944,[5] and in 1951, a February event was added to the calendar.[5] 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.[6]
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.[5] In 2003, the club built a new indoor stadium, theSilver Spurs Arena, which features luxury seats and bar service.[7]
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.[1] By 2005, however, attendance at had dropped slightly,[2] and as of 2009, the purse had declined to approximately $50,000.[8] TheProfessional Rodeo Cowboys Association does not list the Silver Spur Rodeo in their top 50 rodeo listing for 2009.[9] 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.[2]
In 1994, the Silver Spurs Rodeo was designated as the Official State Rodeo by theFlorida Legislature.[3]