story by Lindsay King
As the reigning Large Purse Rodeo of the Year seven years in a row, the Madison County Fair and Rodeo is a tradition continuously evolving for its competitors and spectators. “This rodeo has always been part of the fair, but McKay Rodeo Company helped take it from the little old country rodeo it was when it started in the 60s to what it is today,” said Randy Ritterbush, rodeo chairman. In the past 17 years, Madison has won largest purse rodeo in the M-SRA 16 times, only losing out to Gothenburg once. Randy jokes that once Madison wins it 25 times in a row, Gothenburg can have the title again. “I am mainly in charge of finding all the personnel for the rodeo: secretary, judges, flag man, bull fighters, stock contractors. But we just end up using the same people each year. Someday someone is going to retire and make me have to actually work for it.”
Spectators once sat on haybales around a make-shift arena when horse racing occupied the grandstands at the fairgrounds. “McKay’s were stocking the rodeo at the time and really helped get the set up at the grandstands right. They always bring us the best pen of stock, they have a whole line of bucking horses and bulls of the year they bring to our show.” The Madison rodeo has been M-SRA sanctioned since the association first started and at the recommendation of the contestant’s co-sanctions with the NSRA. “I am not sure if we have that many rodeo fans in northeast Nebraska or if it is the cheap tickets, but we put almost 7,000 fans in the stands for every performance.”
The rodeo is a standalone event four evenings of the week of the fair, Wednesday through Friday, with slack on Tuesday evening. The carnival and food stands are running, but no other major events are scheduled the same nights as the rodeo as it is the featured event. “We fit well in the travel pattern for contestants. We avoid the big run of rodeos over the fourth, but competitors can go to Madison in addition to rodeos in Iowa and maybe even South Dakota all in the same week. They can start in our town on Wednesday and go to a rodeo all the way through Sunday.” This year the fair runs July 11-15, with slack on July 10. “The contestants come here knowing they will have a noisy and knowledgeable crowd to cheer them on. We fill our bull riding every night, because contestants know they will have good and fair stock to ride for a great crowd. We always manage to bring a bull fighter of the year, so it is about as safe as it can get here.”
Hosted in a town of no more than 1,500 people, Madison is small but centrally located. “We have well over 100 camping spots, so people can make a vacation out of the fair. There are also plenty of hotels only 15 miles away in Norfolk.” Once the rodeo stock roll away on the trailers, the arena transforms into a concert venue. Friday and Saturday are dedicated to concerts, bringing in Brothers Osborne and Dustin Lynch this year. Gate admission to the fair is free and rodeo tickets are only $7. With plenty of free parking, the Madison County Fair and Rodeo has room for everyone. “If you want to see top notch bull fighters and some of the best judges, contestants, and talent acts in the business, come to Madison. We will be glad to have you!”
For more information about the Madison County Fair and Rodeo, please visit: madisoncountyfair.org or go to the Facebook page.
