The Great American Stampede Starts Tonight At Cross Hollow Events Center

The Great American Stampede Rodeo is a longtime Cedar City tradition, kicking up dust and excitement each September at the Cross Hollow Event Center. Hosted by the Cedar City Lions Club in partnership with the Southern Utah University (SUU) Rodeo Team, the event brings together student athletes, families, and rodeo fans for two nights of high-energy competition and entertainment.

The rodeo will take place tonight and tomorrow at the Iron Rangers Arena. During interviews on the Big Picture Morning show on KSUB, SUU Rodeo Club members and Great American Stampede Rodeo Royalty told us why they they are so involved with rodeo.

As far as preparation, SUU Rodeo team member Teagan Bredek told us that they practice just like other collegiate sports. She told us, “we go out...and we'll breakaway on Mondays and team rope on Wednesdays, sometimes....other days if we can. But, we've been getting ready for the rodeo, so we've been real busy.”

Shailee Lazenby, who serves as the Queen of the Great American Stampede this year told us that she not only has a passion for what she does, but feels it an obligation to motivate younger generations to be involved in rodeo. She stated, “I've been rodeo queening since I was little. This is just my passion to share the western way of life and the rodeo life with the future generations and to continue growing this sport that I love so much.”

The Great American Stampede Will Have It All

This year’s rodeo featured classic events such as bull riding, saddle bronc, bareback, steer wrestling, calf roping, team roping, barrel racing, breakaway roping, and goat tying. In addition to the competition, the Stampede offered plenty of family-friendly fun, including mutton busting for the kids and a patriotic grand entry to open each evening’s performance.

Tickets were affordably priced, making it easy for families and students to attend, with proceeds supporting the SUU Rodeo Team and local Lions Club charitable programs, including scholarships and community service projects.

The rodeo will start a 7:00pm on both Friday and Saturday, but gates will open at 5:00pm to give you plenty of time to park, find great seats and grab dinner from the concession areas. The burgers out there are tremendous.

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The Great American Stampede has grown steadily since its start in 2001, becoming a highlight of Cedar City’s fall calendar and a celebration of western heritage. Lazenby says we're lucky to have it and that it is an event to attend saying, “I think the really cool part about the Great American Stampede is that we are a college rodeo, and those that don't know enough about it, college rodeo's don't usually get a lot of attention. But, if you are from Cedar City, you know about the Great American Stampede Rodeo. It is a huge event.”

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You can hear our interviews with SUU Rodeo Team members Avery Basset, Teagan Bredek, and Carly Lundgren along with rodeo royalty representatives Shailee Lazenby, Jillian Fairey and Remi Peterson in the podcasts below.