In the early 1940s, very few visitors braved the dusty roads and Canadian River quicksand between Amarillo and Boys Ranch. But the earliest Boys Ranch residents longed to share their achievements with the outside world. In 1944, our founder, Mr. Cal Farley, organized a small rodeo in the hopes that people would come see the transformative effect Boys Ranch was making in the children’s lives.

About one hundred people, many of whom were Mr. Farley’s acquaintances, attended that first rodeo, where the boys rode some donkeys and branded a few calves. Much like the organization’s own humble beginning with nine boys in an abandoned courthouse, the rodeo has experienced a lot of growth in the years since. Today, thousands of visitors attend an event that now includes the fun and games of adventureFEST, authentic Western barbecue and, of course, the traditional rodeo action that thrills our audience each year!