2026 Gallup Rodeos

Above, bull riding during the 2025 Gallup Lions Club Rodeo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Here's the rodeos that will take place at Red Rock Park near Gallup, New Mexico this year:

76th Annual Gallup Lions Club Rodeo & BBQ

Dates: June 18–20, 2026 

Highlights: Youth rodeo (June 18), Open show rodeos (June 19–20), and a downtown BBQ celebration

11th Annual Best of the Best Timed Event Rodeo

Dates: June 23–27, 2026 

Highlights: High-stakes team roping, $3,000 added per event, and exclusive prizes for winners

WildThing Championship Bullriding

Dates: Typically hosted in July (Mid-summer)

Highlights: One of the premier bull-riding events in the Southwest, featuring elite riders and the Wooly Riders youth division

Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial

Dates: August 1–9, 2026

Highlights: Daily rodeo events begin August 6 

Gallup Lions Club Rodeo June 18 - 20

Above, a past Gallup Lions Club Rodeo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This month marks the beginning of rodeo season in the Gallup, New Mexico area.

The first rodeo of the season is the Gallup Lions Club Rodeo that will be held this year at Red Rock Park Rodeo Arena.

The rodeo dates are June 18 through June 20.

It is a great rodeo and I haven't missed it since I moved to New Mexico.

For more information, go here. 

Bull Rider Wade Tuni Is The Biggest Winner At Gallup Rodeo

Above, Wade Tuni's winning ride. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

At last Saturday night's Gallup Lions Club Rodeo, I lucked out and photographed the winning ride of bull rider Wade Tuni.

Above, another shot of Wade Tuni's winning ride. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Navajo Times reported that Tuni took home prize money totalling $4,440.

They reported:

CHURCH ROCK, N.M.

The annual Gallup Lions Club Rodeo never disappoints as cowboys and cowgirls compete for a shipload of cash.

The biggest winner to emerge from the 75th edition was Wade Tuni as he collected a whopping $4,440, which included ground money.

Of the 36 entries, Tuni was the only one to cover his bull as he rode 100X for 82 points in Saturday night’s performance.

“I was the first one out and it was a pretty nice one,” Tuni said of his draw. “He was a pretty good bull to start off with. I just came out with a bang, so it came out pretty good.”

To read more, go here. 

2025 Gallup Lions Club Rodeo

Rodeo season has opened in Gallup, New Mexico. I attended the rodeo last evening at Red Rock Park Rodeo Arena. It is the 75th year Diamond Jubilee rodeo.

As I've mentioned several times, this is my favorite time of the year in New Mexico. The rodeo last night also included a dance and fireworks. I didn't stay for them. But I did enjoy several events that took place.

The rodeo started at 7:00 last night. 

Rodeo season here continues next weekend when the Best of the Best Rodeo featuring contestants from junior high and high schools takes place at the same venue.

Naturally, I took many pictures. 

Here's some of them:

Rodeo Season Starts Today

Rodeo season is kicking off with this weekend's Lions Club Rodeo at Red Rock Park. 

Next weekend, the Best of the Best Rodeo, also at Red Rock Park, will be taking place.

From Rodeoticket:

Join us in Gallup, New Mexico at Red Rock Park from Wednesday, June 21, through Saturday, June 24, 2023, as America’s top junior high and high school rodeo athletes compete for big cash payouts and prizes. The Best of the Best Timed Event Rodeo offers eight timed events, including barrel racing, pole bending, breakaway roping, tie-down roping, team roping, and steer wrestling. In addition, there will be a special parent-contestant team roping and ribbon roping competition.

The contestants are from junior high and high schools. Don't let that dissuade you from attending. They put on a great show!

This is the time of the year that I really enjoy living in New Mexico.

For more information, go here. 

Gallup Lions Club Rodeo 2025

Rodeo season is almost upon us in the Gallup, New Mexico area.

The first rodeo will be the Gallup Lions Club Rodeo at Red Rock Park Rodeo Arena on June 12, 13 and 14. 

There will also be a downtown celebration on Saturday, June 7 featuring a parade, bar-b-que, battle of the bands and rodeo legends autograph signings.

Here's the official poster:

For more information, go here.

2025 Gallup Rodeos

Rodeo season is almost upon us in the Gallup, New Mexico area. This is my favorite times of the year in New Mexico.

So far, these are the rodeos scheduled:

The Gallup Lions Club Youth and Open Show Rodeo, a historic event with rough stock and timed events, is scheduled for June 12-14, 2025, and the Best of the Best Rodeo, featuring junior and high school athletes, will be held from June 21-24, 2025. 

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

Gallup Lions Club Youth and Open Show Rodeo:

• Dates: June 12-14, 2025
• Features: Rough stock and timed events, wooly and steer riding
• Stock Contractor: Casper Baca Rodeo Company
• Youth Rodeo Start Time: 5:00 PM on Thursday, June 12th
• Open Show Rodeo Start Time: 7:00 PM on Friday, June 13th
• Morning Slack: 9:00 AM on Saturday, June 14th
• Saturday Open Show Rodeo Start Time: 7:00 PM 

Best of the Best Rodeo:

• Dates: June 21-24, 2025 
• Location: Red Rock Park in Gallup, New Mexico 
• Participants: America's top junior high and high school rodeo athletes 
• Events: Eight timed events, including barrel racing, pole bending, breakaway roping, tie-down roping, team roping, and steer wrestling 
• Special Competitions: Parent-contestant team roping and ribbon roping 




• Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial August 1 - 10, 2025 (rodeo schedule not available)







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2024 Gallup Lions Club Rodeo

Last evening, I attended the Gallup Lions Club Rodeo at Red Rock Park near Gallup.

It was well attended and the weather was perfect.

Naturally, I took plenty of photos. It was interesting to see young children also bull riding. Well, with smaller bulls.

Here's some of them:

Gallup Lions Club Rodeo Tonight

Today's the day that I will be heading to Red Rock Park for this year's Gallup Lions Club Rodeo.

This is essentially the kick-off to our area's rodeo season. It is expected to hit around 88° today. Since the rodeo will be held in the evening, it should cool down a bit by then.

Above, bull-riding at last year's Gallup Lions Club Rodeo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Rainy Morning

Above, the deck this morning. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today, I was going to water the trees, but the good Lord decided to send over another monsoon storm, so I won't have to.

About an hour ago, I heard heavy rain hitting the roof. I took a look and, sure enough, we were getting some good rain. It is currently sprinkling. 

The Lions Club Rodeo will be held this weekend. It looks like we'll have a hot Saturday.

According to the National Weather service, the weekend looks like this:

 Today

Showers likely before noon, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between noon and 3pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 79. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northeast in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with a low around 53. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming south after midnight.

Saturday

Sunny, with a high near 90. Light and variable wind becoming west 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.

Saturday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 56. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph.

Sunday

Sunny, with a high near 89. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon.

Sunday Night

Clear, with a low around 54.

74th Gallup Lions Club Rodeo

Above, from the 2018 Gallup Lions Club Rodeo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Rodeo season is starting up in Gallup, New Mexico. This is the time of the year that I really enjoy.

The first one is the 74th Gallup Lions Club Rodeo that will be held at Red Rock Park Rodeo Arena.

From the Lions Club website:

74TH ANNUAL GALLUP LIONS CLUB RODEO

YOUTH RODEO THURSDAY 

JUNE 13TH 2024 5:00 PM

OPEN SHOW FRIDAY JUNE 14TH & 

SATURDAY JUNE 15TH, 2024 at 7:00PM

SATURDAY SLACK JUNE 15TH AT 9:00AM

Gallup Area Rodeo Season Just Months Away

Above, from the 2019 Gallup Lions Club Rodeo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The most enjoyable time living in New Mexico I have found is rodeo season. 

Since we're only a few months away from rodeo season in the Gallup, New Mexico area, I did some checking on the dates of them.

Above, from the 2019 Best of the Best Rodeo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Some have not been scheduled as yet. The websites on rodeos in New Mexico have them listed as "TBA" (to be announced).

Some of the prominent ones are the Wild West Days Rodeo in Grants, which usually is held during Independence Day week; Wild Thing Championship Bull Riding; Lions Club Rodeo; Best of the Best Rodeo; and the high school and junior high school rodeos. 

Above, from the 2022 Wild Thing Championship Bull Riding. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial includes a rodeo and this year's will be held August 10-11 at the Red Rock Park Rodeo Arena. 

The Gallup Lions Club Rodeo is scheduled on June 14, 2024 - June 15, 2024 at Red Rock Park Rodeo Arena.

As more rodeos are scheduled, I will post them on this blog.

Mutton Busting

Above, a mutton busting contestant at the Gallup Lions Club Rodeo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

From Modern Farmer:

Mutton busting is simple: children between the age of 4 or 7 clamber aboard a wild, wooly sheep and try to hold on for six seconds.

The Gallup Lions Club Rodeo this last weekend included a mutton busting (or sheep riding) event. Several kids (boys and girls) took part.

Larry Lucier and I remarked that from what we saw, "these kids are tough." None who fell of a sheep got hurt or cried. One contestant was even three years old. He (or she) was as game as the little older sheep riders. After every ride, they just got up, brush themselves off and stride off the field. 

There are some liberal groups in California who want to ban mutton busting. Alameda County in California has already banned it.

Wide Open Pets posted: 

Most parents say this is a confidence-building activity. Yet some parents argue that this is child abuse. Research shows that the sheep don't buck and the children are very close to the ground. 

According to Modern Farmer:

To be a wool rider, a kid has to be between the ages of 4 and 7 and 60 pounds or less. Entry fees are between $10 and $12. Parents sign a waiver to let their children participate and kids wear protective gear, including a vest and helmet with a metal face guard on the front. Just like in the rodeo, sheep are kept in individual chutes. After the kids straddle the sheep and the animals are released into an arena, they get six seconds to try and hang on. Every first place winner in every show is invited to the Wool Riders Only World Championship. Shows go on rain or shine.

To read more, go here.

The Reluctant Bull

Last evening, I went back to the 73rd Annual Gallup Lions Club Rodeo at Red Rock Park Rodeo Arena with Larry Lucier. This time, I decided to leave the camera at home. But I did shoot one video, which is below. 

Here is a bull-riding contestant with a rather reluctant bull. I've never seen this before except with horses. Animals are unpredictable.

Gallup Lions Club Rodeo Bull-riding Contestant

Last evening, I attended the Gallup Lions Club Rodeo at the Red Rock Park Rodeo Arena.

I shot this video short of a bull-riding contestant. Luckily, it was one of the longer rides during the bull-riding event. (Contestants have to have an eight-second ride to receive a score.)

To see photos of the rodeo, go here.

2023 Gallup Lions Club Rodeo

Above, the Gallup Lions Club Rodeo began with some bronco-busting. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last evening, I attended my first rodeo of the year at Red Rock Park Rodeo Arena near Gallup. It was the 73rd annual Gallup Lions Club Rodeo.

It was a bit windy and the clouds threatened to rain on us. Fortunately, they moved to the northeast and we ended up with clear skies. It wouldn't have mattered anyway, rodeos proceed on, rain or shine.

I was able to see several different events, including bronco-busting, sheep riding (little kids, some as young as three years old), breakaway roping, calf roping and bull riding.

The rodeo was well-attended and the attendees were enthusiastic. When the rodeo sponsors (Gallup area businesses) were introduced, it was to a selection of John Wayne movie soundtracks including The Cowboys and Sons of Katie Elder.

An attendance to the Gallup Lions Club Rodeo would not be complete without having a barbecue beef sandwich from the concession stand. Those are quite good.

Naturally, I brought along my Canon Revel camera and took about 165 photos, some of which are posted below. To see a bull-riding contestant on video, go here.

I may go again tonight and see The Flash tomorrow.

The next rodeo for Gallup is the 8th Annual Best of the Best Rodeo - June 27-July 1.