Rodeo History

A group of cowboys from the Laurel Leaf Ranch, located east of Canadian, conceived the 1888 project of holding a public contest with steer roping as the main event. In the years to follow, it was remembered that there was “roping and tying down”, horseraces, tournament races, and dancing indulged by the multitudes.

Avil Park RodeoTo J. C. Studer, the 4th of July was sacred. He opened the lake on his property to the public each year on July 4th. Studer Ranch and the Anvil Park were located east of Canadian on Lake Marvin Road. J.C. built temporary stands at Anvil Park (so named after the Studer Ranch anvil brand) and in 1922, the Anvil Park Rodeo was born.

Sydna Yokley WoodyardSydna Yokley Woodyard was posthumously honored as a member of the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame on May 14, 1977. Sydna Yokley was born January 17, 1922 to Jess and Mae Ross Yokley and was raised on the Yokley's ranch outside Canadian, Texas. Sydna was truly a woman of western heritage. Her horse and roping skills can be traced back to her natural way of life and learning on her family's ranch.

Clinton & Clayton HillTwin boys, Clinton and Clayton Hill, were the third and fourth children born to Ben and Hazel Hill on June 30, 1924. Clinton was five minutes older than Clayton. They were born in Lipscomb County at their grandmother Cordelia Hill's home and raised on their family ranch in Roberts County. The four oldest Hill children began their education in an upstairs room in the family home until the Hill's moved to Canadian in 1936 where they continued their education.

J.W. StokerJ.W. Stoker was born on the Stoker Ranch in September of 1927 near Colorado Springs , Colorado . Four years later the Stoker family moved to Overland Park , Kansas where they were raised and attended school. J.W. had two younger sisters, Frankie Louise and Bessie Mae. The three Stoker children's interest in trick riding and roping was sparked by the Tom Mix Circus performance in Kansas City , Missouri their grandfather took them to see.