The notorious gaudy cowtown of Tascosa, situated along the dramatic Canadian River breaks in the Texas Panhandle, was long known to harbor desperadoes, rustlers, fugitives and those who pursued them. Today it’s a ghost town — and the site of a totally different Western tradition.
On Sept. 2, Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch, which sprawls across 12,000 acres — including the site of Old Tascosa — will host its 73rd Annual Rodeo.
Yes, it’s a place where cattle still outnumber people. But the site of Boot Hill Cemetery, the original Oldham County Courthouse (1884) and the Oldham County School House (1885) is now home to hundreds of at-risk boys and girls between the ages of 5 and 18, giving them a “shirttail to hang onto,” as businessman Farley once famously said. Farley established Boys Ranch in 1939, and several sites on its historic campus are open for the public to visit.
Take 100 or so of these kids, more than 100 head of livestock, add several thousand fans, and it all adds up to one great rodeo. The youngsters compete in many events, including stick horse barrel racing, mutton busting, junior calf riding, senior calf riding, steer riding, bronc riding, chute doggin’, roping, girls’ barrel racing and pole bending. The kids have been practicing and rehearsing all summer — tutored by professional rodeo men and women — which gives them a chance to show off the skills learned at the many rodeo schools Boys Ranch hosts during the year. Rodeo professionals donate their time and knowledge to ensure that the youth perform in a skilled and safe manner.
RIDING HIGH (AND LOW) “The general premise of the rodeo hasn’t changed since the day Cal Farley started it,” says an organizer. “The kids practice, learn skills, get confidence. And that’s so important.”
Rodeo day begins at 8 a.m. with a 5K Rodeo Run, followed by a one- mile Fun Run beginning at 9 a.m. From 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., adventureFEST is in full swing just outside the rodeo arena. Located in the heart of the rodeo grounds and pre- rodeo activities, adventureFEST — now in its seventh year — adds an exciting family- centric festival to the thrills of the annual Boys Ranch Rodeo. At adventureFEST, Cal Farley’s youth and supporters stroll along the midway, enjoying entertainment, merchandise, food, games and souvenirs for all ages. This event includes booths from sponsoring vendors, a chuck wagon where kids bake fried pies for rodeo guests, a face-painting booth manned by rodeo funny men, and demonstrations by the Cal Farley school’s STEAM Lab (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics). A barbecue luncheon is served from noon to 2 p.m., before the rodeo begins at 2:30 p.m. A bargain $10 ticket at the gate includes lunch and all the excitement; children 6 and under are free. The Labor Day weekend is also a time for hundreds of Boys Ranch alumni to gather. It’s their homecoming — and many guests travel from all over the United States to attend. Rain or shine, it’s the rodeo where Cal Farley’s kids ride. Come cheer them on — and enjoy a generous dose of Texas history and scenery while you’re at it.
