For the Record: Caldwell Night Rodeo

The Caldwell (Idaho) Night Rodeo was the first rodeo in the Pacific Northwest to be held under lights, and since then the arena’s been lit up by many record-setting rides.

Now entering its 83rd year of competition, Caldwell became a PRCA-sanctioned rodeo in 1949 (at the time, the PRCA was known as the Rodeo Cowboys Association). Since, the rodeo has grown in size and notoriety, as it has been nominated for the PRCA’s Top Large Outdoor Rodeo seven times in the last 15 years. Meanwhile, Caldwell’s arena records have become increasingly impressive as well.

Trevor Brazile set the arena record for all-around earnings in 2008 with $10,944.

Bareback rider Steven Dent set the arena record with his 91-point ride in 2008.

Steer wrestler Rod Currin set the Caldwell record in 1986 with his 3.5-second run. Casey McMillen matched him in 2007. Two years later, Wade Sumpter set the three-head average record with 12.3 seconds in 2009, and Dean Gorsuch matched him in 2010.

Team roping was hot in 2007, as two teams tied in setting the arena record. Colter Todd and Cesar de la Cruz, and Garrett Tonozzi and Caleb Twisselman, all clocked in at 3.8 seconds. The three-run average record of 14.5 seconds was set in 2014 by Brandon Beers and Jim Ross Cooper.

Saddle bronc rider Shaun Stroh set the Caldwell record in 2010 with his 91-point ride.

Tie-down roper Blair Burk’s 6.9-second run has been the arena record since 2011. The following year, Justin Maass set the three-run record with 23.8 seconds in 2012, and Cory Solomon matched him in 2013.

Barrel racer Stevi Hillman set the arena record during the second round of the 2017 Caldwell Night Rodeo by clocking in at 16.68 seconds. Nancy Hunter set the three-run average record of 51.48 seconds in 2014.

Bull rider Lee Akin set two records in 2001 – first with his 94-point ride which contributed to setting the two-head average record of 183 points.

Caldwell’s record payout was set in 2007 with $306,632.

Courtesy of PRCA