The first Calapooia Rodeo was held one mile west of Crawfordsville which in 1918 was larger than Sweet Home. In addition to bronc and steer riding, the Rodeo arena had a quarter mile dirt track and sported horse racing as it was very popular at most rodeos of the time. On August 11, 1956, the Linn County Foothills Riders sponsored a horse show at the Frontier Days celebration in Sweet Home. Log Bu
cking, axe throwing, and choker setting races were held for the first time also as Sweet Home became a booming logging town. July 1983 marked the re-opening of the Calapooia Round-up as part of the week long community event, and the past was reborn. In 1985 a plot of ground was leased on the corner of 49th and Highway 20. That continued to be the rodeo grounds until moving to our present site at the beautiful Sweet Home Outdoor Events Center at 4001 Long Street. Renamed the Sweet Home Rodeo, along with the Logger’s Olympics, the new grounds proved the place to be the 2nd weekend in July. We were originally supported by the Sweet Home Economic Development Group (S.H.E.D.G.), however as of 2012 SHEDG has made the decision not to provide financial support thus the rodeo is 100% supported by Sponsorships & fundraising. In spite of this, the expectations are of the Rodeo becoming bigger and better each year. In recent years, we have received several awards from the Northwest Pro Rodeo Association (NPRA). The Sweet Home Rodeo continues to be one of the crown jewels of the NPRA Diamond Circuit. With the help of the Sportsman’s Holiday, and most importantly YOU the fans, The Sweet Home Rodeo will live on and honor the Old West past for years to come.
