The first Llano Rodeo was held in 1919 west of town where T.J. Moore’s pecan orchard is now, on the old picnic grounds, as it was called back then. Steer Roping, Bull and Steer riding, Bronco riding, and bulldogging were some of the first events. In 1933 the rodeo was moved to Robinson Park where it was located for a couple of more years. In 1935 the pens were set up for the rodeo but just days before it started the 1935 flood washed the pens, and the bridge out, there was no rodeo that year. It continued to grow over the next few years and actually began to make a profit. Then the war broke out and the rodeo was canceled 1942-1945.
The Llano Rodeo was back in business in 1946 hosting a homecoming with the event, it was the largest audience to see the Llano Rodeo to that point. Over the years the rodeo saw many different producers, and in 1985 and 1986, Bad Company Rodeo produced the first P.R.C. A. Rodeos, and saw the rodeo go from a three-day to a two-day event. In 2011 the rodeo, put on by Cadillac Rodeo Company and overseen by the Llano County Community Center Board moved to the new John L Kuykendall Arena, where it is currently held.
In 2012, Llano had a special event happening that not many knew about. Rodeo barrel man Ronald Burton and Hollywood producer Noessa Higa were making a documentary on Burton’s path to becoming a P.R.C.A. barrel man. The movie, “Man in The Can” made its world premiere in Fredericksburg in April of 2015 at the Hill Country Film Festival where it won the “Best Texas Film” and has many other awards across the country. In July of 2015, the movie made its premier to Llano, brought to town by the Llano Chamber of Commerce, with a large, Monday night performance.
Beginning at 10:00am on Saturday, June 4, the Llano Open Pro Rodeo Parade will get under way, and one of the special guests in the parade is P.R.C.A. barrel man, Ronald Burton, who will go immediately from the parade to Main Street Affairs for a DVD launch party for “Man in The Can”. Along with Burton will be film producer, Noessa Higa who will be offering a limited edition DVD of the film, signed by both Higa and Burton. Get some BBQ from the Boy Scouts and come on over to Main Street Affairs for the party and DVD Launch.
The rodeo gets underway on Friday night, gates open at 5:00pm with performances at 7:30pm on both Friday and Saturday. Mutton Bustin`, a thrill for participants and spectators will open the rodeo each night. Tickets are available from your Rodeo Queens contestants and the Llano Chamber of Commerce. Dances both nights following the rodeo performances at the Oestreich’s Rose, located next to Inman’s BBQ on Hwy. 29. For more information on the 81st Llano Open Pro Rodeo, call the Llano Chamber of Commerce at 325-247-5354.
