Elko, Nevada’s Silver State Stampede: 112 Years and Counting

The oldest rodeo in Nevada, Elko’s Silver State Stampede was founded in 1912 by world renowned saddle maker, G.S. Garcia, and is still going strong over a century later.

What began as a community gathering and competition for local ranch cowboys has evolved into the fast-paced, multifaceted professional rodeo event it is today.

The Stampede joined the PRCA in 1988 and has grown steadily since then. The Stampede is quite fittingly the only PRCA rodeo to award highly-coveted, handmade Garcia spurs to event winners. With the help of its dedicated sponsors, the

Stampede has also increased added money 156% since 2021 and now offers $15,000 added money per event. The total payout in 2024 was $179,814.

This has served to position the Stampede among the top-paying 60 rodeos out of approximately 790 total PRCAsanctioned events. The recently boosted payout amounts have also helped secure the rodeo a spot in the elite NFR Playoff Series. Depending on how the calendar falls each year, the Stampede is usually held the second weekend of July, often making it a convenient stop for competitors on the road for the “Cowboy Christmas” run.

Since 2022, the stock contractor for the Stampede has been the awardwinning Frontier Rodeo Company. Their outstanding broncs and bulls help bring some of the biggest names in professional bareback, saddle bronc, and bull riding to Elko. The Stampede also boasts a packed timed-event roster, with a long list of slack contestants in addition to the three rodeo performances that are broadcast on the Cowboy Channel.

The Stampede also features unique special awards. Sponsored by the family of Stampede board president, Pat Laughlin, a “Top Gun” award is given to the Nevada contestant earning the most money during the three-day event. The winner receives a rifle in memory of Pat’s father, Mike Laughlin, a longtime supporter of the Stampede and western lifestyles in general.

Starting in 2024, the Trenten Montero Memorial awards a custom bronze sculpted by Utah-based artist, Jeff Wolf, to the winner of the bareback riding. The bronze is beautifully styled after one of Montero’s best rides, and honors the late Winnemucca, Nevada cowboy, who sustained fatal injuries in the arena at the Homedale, Idaho rodeo in August 2023. In the award’s inaugural year, the Stampede board presented a bronze not only to the bareback riding winner, Kade Sonnier, but also to Trenten’s parents and to his widow and son. Artist Jeff Wolf was on-site for the touching presentation of the bronzes.

The Stampede also auctioned a custom-designed gun case with the proceeds benefitting the Trenten Montero Foundation, a 501(c)(3) founded to support professional rodeo cowboys whose medical costs from competition injuries exceed their insurance coverage. Additionally, all proceeds from the sale of the rodeo’s annual commemorative poster benefitted the Foundation.

In addition to PRCA events and awards, the Stampede also hosts mutton busting and mini-bull riding for young, up-and-coming rodeo stars, and the always thrilling Ring of Fear event. For rodeo fans, a well-rounded Stampede experience extends beyond the arena with a parade, kickoff concert, trade show, dances with live music following the Friday and Saturday rodeo performances, and a free mechanical bull for kids to ride.

The Stampede has almost certainly bloomed far beyond any expectations G.S. Garcia may have had, but at its heart, hasn’t strayed far from its humble beginnings. The Stampede is a steadfast supporter of numerous local organizations, and each year, honors a local citizen as Grand Marshall.

BREWER’S ARENA Los Molinos, CA

MONDAY NIGHTS, SEPTEMBER 9, 16, 23, 30 & OCTOBER 7 Team Roping Practice Monday nights 6:30• 8:30pm: $25

WEDNESDAY NIGHTS

SEPTEMBER 4, 11, 18, 25, OCTOBER 2

FRIDAY NIGHT, SEPTEMBER 6

SHERIFF POSSE ARENA Brown’s Valley, CA

FRIDAY NIGHT, SEPTEMBER 13

Roping

MARYSVILLE STAMPEDE

SATURDAY SEPT 14/SUNDAY SEPT 15

TEHAMA COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS Red Bluff, CA

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14

Team Roping Jackpot SU 5:30, Rope 6:00PM. #6

OWENS RANCH ARENA Middletown, CA

SEPTEMBER

10:00am. #5 Roping, #6 Roping, # 7 Roping HDCP., Draw - 3 for $25 Breast collar to High Money #3 & under.

STEVE LYDON ARENA Healdsburg, CA

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28

Team Roping

SHERIFF POSSE ARENA Orland, CA

It was a beautiful weekend for the 17th Annual Steve Maddalena Memorial Team Roping. It’s hard to believe that it has been 17 years already!

Although I’m biased because Steve was my dad, this is still my favorite roping of the year. We took a chance this year in changing the roping from the first weekend in August to the second weekend in August, simply because there are so many other ropings happening throughout the state. Although we gained many of the ropers that would typically travel to Winnemucca for the WSTR, we did lose others to the Siskiyou and Nevada county fairs, Gilroy Rodeo, and Madonna Inn WSTR, just to name a few.

While we missed many friends this year, I was incredibly thankful for those who continue to show up year after year, despite other roping opportunities, and share their fond memories of my dad. I always get a kick out of the stories that people tell, such as his hilarious answering machine messages, inappropriate birthday cards, and his ability to keep a crowd of people up all night telling stories. He was one of a kind, a true friend to all who knew him, and had the ability to brighten up just about anyone’s day.

We had a great turnout of ropers and incredible weather...all in all it was an awesome weekend! Thank you to Rachel Kent and the rest of the secretary staff, the Sierra Valley Roping Club, Brew, our girls in the concession stand, all of the sponsors, and most of all, a huge, sincere thank you to all of the ropers and their families that continue to make this roping so special! You have helped keep my dad’s memory alive and well, and it’s fun to see even those who never met him, get to know him through your memories!

UNTIL NEXT YEAR…TOOTLES!

EVENT: #4 ROPING

- Entry Fee: $40.00 for 3 runs

- Number of Teams: 109

- Total Pot for Average Payoff: $4,510.00

- Number of Payout Positions: 6

FINANCIAL BREAKDOWN:

- Total Money Owed By Teams: $8,720.00

- Unpaid Money from Free Run Partners: $480.00

- Association Money: $189.00

- Lump Sum Deductions and Additions: -$240.00 (Net)

- Stock Charge: $2,800.00

- Round Money: $501.00

ROUND PAYOFFS:

- Rotation 1, Round 1 Winners:

- Marty Powers* and Larry Williams* ($125 each)

- Todd McWilliams* and Tom Moxley* ($75 each)

- Mike Umbdenstock* and Steve Springer* ($50 each)

AVERAGE PAYOFFS:

1. Lenai Branco* and Warren Enz*

- $744 each

2. Dan Greenwood* and John W. Miller* - $519 each

3. Toni Morrison* and Ronnie Hardin* - $383 each

4. Annie Tipton* and Julie Wilkins* - $271 each

5. Mike Umbdenstock* and Luke White* - $203 each

6. Marty Powers* and Brad Blagg* - $135 each

EVENT: #5.5 ROPING

- Entry Fee: $40.00 for 3 runs

- Number of Teams: 89

- Total Pot for Average Payoff: $3,472.00

- Number of Payout Positions: 6

FINANCIAL BREAKDOWN:

- Total Money Owed By Teams: $7,120.00

- Unpaid Money from Free Run Partners: $520.00

- Association Money: $169.00

- Lump Sum Deductions and Additions: -$360.00 (Net)

- Stock Charge: $2,213.00

- Round Money: $386.00

ROUND PAYOFFS:

- Rotation 1, Round 1 Winners:

- Carson Williams* and Ty Morrill* ($96 each)

- Marty Powers* and Waco VonTour* ($58 each)

- Josh Scheiber* and Dan Williams Sr.* ($39 each)

AVERAGE PAYOFFS:

1. Carson Williams* and Ty Morrill* - $573 each

2. Marty Powers* and Waco VonTour* - $399 each

3. Jerry Griffin* and Warren Enz* - $295 each

4. Jerry Jr. Corriea and Ty Morrill* - $208 each

5. Josh Scheiber* and Carson Williams* - $156 each

6. Chase Goss* and Dan Greenwood* - $104 each

EVENT: #6 ROPING

- Entry Fee: $40.00 for 3 runs

- Number of Teams: 102

- Total Pot for Average Payoff: $3,869.00

- Number of Payout Positions: 6

FINANCIAL BREAKDOWN:

- Total Money Owed By Teams: $8,160.00

- Unpaid Money from Free Run Partners: $960.00

- Association Money: $181.00

- Lump Sum Deductions and Additions: -$280.00 (Net)

- Stock Charge: $2,440.00

- Round Money: $430.00

ROUND PAYOFFS:

- Rotation 1, Round 1 Winners:

- Brandt Hiles* and Waco VonTour* ($107 each)

- Todd McWilliams* and Brad Blagg* ($64 each)

- Todd McWilliams* and Carson Williams* ($43 each)

AVERAGE PAYOFFS:

1. Annie Tipton* and Zack Parsons$638 each

2. Todd York* and Buddy Blosser*$445 each

3. Todd York* and Carson Williams*$329 each

4. Annie Tipton* and Warren Enz*$232 each

5. Mike Umbdenstock* and Ty Morrill*$174 each

6. Wayne Lund* and Conner Finks$116 each

EVENT: #8 ROPING

- Entry Fee: $40.00 for 3 runs

- Number of Teams: 78

- Total Pot for Average Payoff: $3,162.00

- Number of Payout Positions: 5

FINANCIAL BREAKDOWN:

- Total Money Owed By Teams: $6,240.00

- Unpaid Money from Free Run Partners: $200.00

- Association Money: $154.00

- Lump Sum Deductions and Additions: -$340.00 (Net)

- Stock Charge: $2,033.00

- Round Money: $351.00

ROUND PAYOFFS:

- Rotation 1, Round 1 Winners:

- Clint Campbell and Ethan Garcia* ($105 each)

- Clint Campbell and Brian Humphry* ($70 each)

AVERAGE PAYOFFS:

1. Marty Powers* and Buddy Blosser*$553 each

2. Cole Hook* and Ted Williams*$395 each

3. Todd York* and Waco VonTour*$300 each

4. Todd York* and Roy Branco*$221 each

5. Todd York* and Warren Enz*$111 each