Days of ’76, Crystal Springs Ranch Rodeo win PRCA Rodeos of the Year

The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association announced the winners of the 2007 Rodeos of the Year Dec. 5 in Las Vegas and two South Dakota rodeos took home the title in their respective divisions.

The Deadwood Days of ’76 Rodeo, which concluded its 85th annual rodeo in July, won Medium Market Rodeo of the Year for the fourth consecutive year. Prior to that, the rodeo won for best Small Market Rodeo of the Year for four straight years.

The Deadwood Rodeo was competing this year with the Belle Fourche (SD) Roundup Annual 4th of July Rodeo and rodeos in Bremerton, WA, Gladewater, TX, and Jackson, MS.

Winning Small Market Rodeo of the Year was the Crystal Springs Ranch Rodeo held near Clear Lake, SD. Known as “America’s Most Natural Rodeo Bowl,” the former duck pond turned rodeo arena celebrated its 62nd anniversary in 2007.

The Crystal Springs Ranch Rodeo won the award for the first time, competing against rodeos in Estes Park, CO, Steamboat Springs, CO, Mesquite, TX and Helotes, TX.

Sutton Rodeos produces the Clear Lake rodeo along with the Black Hills Stock Show & Rodeo in Rapid City, SD, which was nominated for top indoor PRCA rodeo. The San Antonio (TX) Stock Show & Rodeo was the recipient of the 2007 Large Market Rodeo of the Year.