The 27th reason we love West Texas: because we’ve made our mark in the rodeo arena

The arrival of annual rodeo seasons remind us of the cowboy legacy that will forever be identified with this region. They are a long-lived tradition in these parts, and this “old west” custom continues to rope in crowds. Competitors’ athleticism is put to the test in bull riding, calf roping, bareback riding, team branding, and barrel racing. Rodeos stand as a pillar of our Western heritage.

The American Quarter Horse Association, along with its Hall of Fame and museum, is based in Amarillo, Texas. Every year, Amarillo hosts the Coors Cowboy Club Ranch Rodeo, the World Championship Ranch Rodeo (PRCA), the Women’s Ranch Rodeo National Finals, AND the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Rodeo. Did I tell you how important the rodeo is to West Texas? Folks, that’s just in Amarillo.

One of the longest-running and largest rodeos in the nation is in San Angelo every February. The San Angelo Stock Show & Rodeo draws the best of the PRCA cowboys and cowgirls. It features three weeks of fierce competition in bronc and bull riding, calf and steer roping and barrel racing. All of it concluding with the Cinch Chute-Out; a winner-takes-all contest featuring forty of the best. The stock show boasts a history going back more than 80 years, ranking among the top in the nation for number of entries. The premium sale on the last day of the show puts hundreds of thousands of dollars in the hands of the kiddos.

In Lubbock, the ABC Pro Rodeo is now on its 78^th year. The ABC Rodeo has claimed the coliseum on Texas Tech’s campus as its home for 63 years, but this year things are changing. The citizens of Lubbock voted to tear down the Lubbock Municipal Coliseum that was once home to the Texas Tech basketball teams - but don’t fret rodeo fans. A few weeks ago, the organizers for the ABC Pro Rodeo announced they will hold the 78th annual rodeo at the Mallet Event Center in Levelland until it finds a new permanent home.

Speaking of basketball and the number 27, does anyone remember what happened on February 27, 2019? The Texas Tech basketball team pulled out an 84-80 OT win over Oklahoma State to pull into a first-place tie with Kansas State. The team went on to play for the National Championship

This one is just for kicks.