This won’t be Taylor’s first rodeo.
Held every year since 1950, the Taylor Annual Rodeo returns to the Williamson County Expo Center. The 73rd edition of the rodeo takes place this coming Thursday through Saturday, July 13–15.
Edwin Stojanik, Taylor Rodeo Association President, said the rodeo typically draws anywhere from 8,500 to 12,000 people throughout the three-day event.
“Two years ago, we had to shut the gates and people were climbing over the fence, so we just let everybody in,” Stojanik said. “The rodeo is just a tradition.”
Listed at 60,000 square feet on TRA’s website, the rodeo’s arena is the largest rodeo facility in Williamson County. The arena can hold 3,500 people at any given time, Stojanik said.
What sets Taylor’s rodeo apart from other rodeos is the high number of events it offers, Stojanik said. While the rodeo does have sanctioned events, it also has multiple opportunities for crowd participation.
For instance, children and adults can participate in the “Calf Scramble” event, where the participant must chase a calf to try to pull a ribbon off its tail.
Kids can also participate in the “Mutton Bustin’” event, which involves children riding on sheep in a similar way as an adult may ride a bull. The event signups will be available at the front gate.
“We do Mutton Bustin’ prior to the rodeo and then we do that during the event,” Stojanik said. “They get to play cowboys on sheep.”
The Taylor Rodeo is a part of the Cowboys Professional Rodeo Association, a governing body for rodeos in Texas and surrounding states. Stojanik said that out of 400 rodeos, CPRA members voted Taylor as the second best to participate in as far as event opportunities, lodging, food and crowd participation.
Thursday serves as the rodeo’s “Heroes Appreciation Night,” where military and first responders get into the events for free with a military or work ID at the gate.
Following the completion of rodeo activities, musical artist Kenny Orts takes the stage on Friday night from 10 p.m. to midnight. Singer-songwriter Carson Jeffrey performs in the same slot the following evening.
The rodeo is in conjunction with the Taylor Rodeo Association’s scholarship fundraiser in March and Bull Buckout event in June.
“We are proud to be able to announce Friday night at our rodeo that we are giving out another $50,000 in scholarships,” Stojanik said.
