BY KEITH LIPPOLDT
klippoldt@gbtribune.com
Jordaan Park in Larned is home to a very nice rodeo arena. Built in the 1990s, Larned hosted events at the arena for many years. But, over time, they went away and the arena sat empty.
Being a “Rodeo guy,” Rocke Foster wanted to see the arena put back into service so he and a group of Pawnee County locals formed a committee which is now hosting the sixth annual Santa Fe Trail Rodeo on May 23-24 in Larned.
“I hated seeing the arena not being used so a group of us got together and came up with this idea to have a rodeo,” Foster, the Rodeo Chairman said. “The arena sat pretty much unused as a rodeo arena for 20-plus years and since that was kind of my pet project back in the ‘90s, I wanted to see it being used again. We have a beautiful facility, all steel. I hated seeing it not used for what it was built for. We wanted to do a non-profit event so we hooked up with the Larned Chamber of Commerce. We do it in conjunction with the Santa Fe Trail Days they put on. We do the rodeo. They do everything else.”
This rodeo has all the main events including the fan favorites bull riding, saddle bronc riding, bareback riding and women’s barrel racing, as well as calf roping, steer wrestling, team roping and mutton busting for the kids.
Now in its second year of affiliation with the Kansas Rodeo Association, this event is open to all competitors, whether they are a highly ranked cowboy or a local just getting started.
“Our rodeo is also open to local or non-card holding competitors,” Foster said. “That’s something we did because we wanted to make sure that local people could compete and not have to be a member. We will have 8-10 competitors in each event. Some of the events may have 15, and then we’ll have slack, too.”
Foster has seen the event grow over the past five years and the Santa Fe Trails Rodeo Association has made it as family friendly as possible.
“We’ve grown every year in crowd size and competitor size,” he said. “Like I said, the last two years we went to Kansas Pro Rodeo to make it a little more professional, run a little smoother with less downtime. We’re nonprofit, and have great sponsors. By the time we sing the national anthem the first night, our rodeo is paid for.
“Our whole goal was to keep the gate costs down. We’re $10 for an adult and $5 for a child, and under six is free. I’ve been to rodeos where it’s $18-20 per head. That was our goal to try and hold costs down so they can spend money with our food vendors, and other stuff around the arena.”
And the rodeo has benefitted the Larned Chamber, the Fair Board, as well as vendors. The Beer Garden and food vendors have increased sales each year. And with so many cowboys coming into Larned, the community benefits from fuel sales, food sales and lodging.
Other than the “seed money” the Rodeo Association holds back each year, the rodeo has been responsible for many charitable actions in the Larned community.
“We’ll spend $10,000 to $15,000 a year donating back to the schools, the Fire Department, the ambulance, or to people in need,” he said. “A couple of years ago, we had a house that burned down. The family didn’t have anything, so we donated money to them.”
No rodeo is complete without a Queen, and the Santa Fe Trails Rodeo is no different.
“We bring in four or five contestants each year,” Foster explained. “The Queen receives prizes and donations that people and sponsors give her and we, as an association, buy her chaps. As she goes to other rodeos throughout the summer, she advertises for us with our logo on her chaps and with her sash.”
The action begins Friday, May 23 at 7:30 p.m. with the crowning of the 2025 Rodeo Queen, with the rodeo following the crowning at 8. Friday is “Tough Enough to Wear Pink” night where some of the cowboys and cowgirls wear pink. There will also be a DJ for your entertainment that night.
Saturday is also First Responders / Military Appreciation night. The rodeo will begin at 8 p.m., followed by a dance and live band afterwards.
