Rankin's All-Kid Rodeo

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about Rankin's All-Kid Rodeo, right there in Upton County, Texas. Now settle in, because this one's got heart. Rankin, Texas came into being in 1911, and from the very start, ranching was the backbone of that town's economy.

Cowboys and ranchers rode in for roping events, some from right there in Rankin, some coming in from outside the area. And when they came, they brought their kids. Those kids would watch, and then they'd practice, and pretty soon they had skills that needed somewhere to go.

That right there is the kindling. The spark came in 1952, when a professional roper by the name of Walton Poage, together with his son and his son's friend, went around to the residents of Rankin and said, let's build something for these children. And Rankin said yes.

The community came together, and that first All-Kid Rodeo was held that very same year. Two go-rounds, five events: calf roping, ribbon roping, goat roping, steer riding, and a barrel race and boot scramble. A dollar to enter each event.

Prizes donated by local businesses and residents. Now, a dollar and a dream, that's a fine place to start. By the following year, the Upton County 4-H Club stepped in to sponsor the rodeo, and the thing just kept growing.

By 1954, somewhere between fifteen hundred and two thousand individuals were showing up each night of the event. Each. Night.

Word had gotten out, and Rankin was ready for every last one of them. Here's what makes the story land, though. Since its inception, the All-Kid Rodeo has been held every single year without interruption.

Boys and girls who rode their first competitive event right there in Rankin went on to become members of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. The rodeo brought commerce into town, drew in visitors and competitors, and kept alive the ranching and family spirit that Rankin was built on. What Walton Poage and a couple of kids and a willing community started in 1952 is still going.

Some traditions earn their place. This one did it one dollar at a time.

What the marker says

Since 1952, the community of Rankin has annually hosted an All-Kid Rodeo, an event unique to the sport, which has its roots in the American cattle industry. Ranching has been the backbone of the Rankin economy since the town's establishment in 1911. Many of the cowboys and ranchers in Rankin participated in rodeos, while other individuals from outside the area came here for roping events. The competitors often brought their children, many of whom practiced events and wanted an outlet for their skills. In 1952, professional roper Walton Poage, along with his son and his son's friend, enlisted help from residents in Rankin in creating an All-Kid Rodeo. The community came together to support the idea, and the first All-Kid Rodeo was held that year in two go-rounds of calf roping, ribbon roping, goat roping, steer riding, and a barrel race and boot scramble. The entry fee for each event was $1.00 and prizes were donated by local businesses and residents. By the next year, the Upton County 4-H Club began to sponsor the rodeo. The event grew in popularity, and in 1954, approximately 1,500 to 2,000 individuals attended each night of the event. Since its inception, the All-Kid Rodeo has been held every year. It brings commerce into Rankin, drawing in visitors and competitors, many of whom later became members of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. It was the first rodeo contest for many boys and girls, and helped them get a start in the sport. Today, the All-Kid Rodeo continues to be a unique tradition promoting the ranching and family spirit of the Rankin community. (2010)