The Pendleton Round-Up Has Been Canceled for Only the Third Time in Over 100 Years

Oregon’s largest rodeo is an economic boom for the city of Pendleton.

IMAGE: Donna Lasater/Flickr.
By Shannon Gormley

After months of deliberation, this year's Pendleton Round-Up has been canceled due to COVID-19.

It's only the third time the rodeo hasn't taken place since it was founded in 1910, and the first time it's been canceled since World War II. The Oregonian first reported the cancellation.

The Round-Up, which would have taken place in September, is Oregon's largest rodeo and an annual economic boom for Pendleton.

"'Let'er Buck' & 'On with the show' is in our DNA," reads a statement on the Roundup's website. "We are comforted knowing our community is not being put in harm's way with the novel coronavirus, for that would be a burden we could not bear."

In an interview with Oregon Public Broadcasting last month, Round-Up president Randy Bracher said organizers were exploring how the event could be modified to operate safely during the pandemic.

"We're looking into doing that, no matter what the protocol is," Bracher said. "More signage of just the things you learn in kindergarten and preschool: Wash your hands when you go to the bathroom, wash your hands before you eat. It seems elementary, but every little bit helps."

Those who bought tickets to this year's Round-Up can either get a refund, roll their tickets over to the 2021 rodeo, or donate to the Let'er Buck Cares Fund, which will support organizations financially impacted by the cancellation.

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