GUYMON, Okla. – Guymon’s annual rodeo is a major drawing card, not only regionally but with some international flair among the competitors who travel to the Oklahoma Panhandle.
The Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo’s Dinner, Dance & Draw Down is becoming almost as popular. Nearly 300 supporters packed into the hospitality building at Henry C. Hitch Pioneer Arena on Saturday, Feb. 15, for the event, which celebrated its 20th year in grand fashion.
“The event was a huge success with an amazing turnout,” said Brooke Kitting, the marketing director for the rodeo committee. “We served approximately 275 meals, and the hospitality area was at full capacity.”
Established in 2006, the Dinner, Dance & Draw Down has become an important fundraiser for the rodeo committee. Money earned will go toward the expenses that come with producing one of the top events in the sport. There are about 1,000 contestants who annually compete at Pioneer Days Rodeo, the only ProRodeo Hall of Fame event in Oklahoma. More than 1,110 cowboys and cowgirls entered the rodeo last year.
This year’s event will feature four performances, set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 2; 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 3; and 2 p.m. Sunday, May 4, at the arena.
“The Dinner, Dance & Draw Down isn’t just a fundraiser for the rodeo; it’s also a way to help draw awareness and thank our supporters,” said Ken Stonecipher, the rodeo committee’s chairman. “We have some incredible supporters to help make it a success and a fun night for everyone involved.”
Because of its 20th celebration, the prize for the draw down was increased to $10,000. It came down to two people, who decided to split the prize to earn $5,000 each. The event also had two rounds of 50/50 prizes, including a grill and a his-and-hers pistol set.
Every 18th draw in the round earned door prizes, which had been donated by Wirtz Lumber and Supply, Dancer’s Fine Wine & Liquor, The Ge Spot Treats, Lumber Mart, Refz Sports Bar & Grill, Vallarta Mexican Bar & Grill, Bronze & Beautiful, The Strip Meat Co., L.A. Nails, Today’s Nails, COJO Industrial Sales, Seaboard Foods and Aurora Stonecipher.
The food was provided by Hunny’s, and there were several sponsors who helped the event be a success: Refs, Bob’s Cowboy Bar and M&M Hot Oil Services LLC were beer and bar sponsors; Blackmore Livestock Transportation sponsored the entertainment from the Amarillo band 9 Eyes; and Fisch & Hitch sponsored decorations.
“We also want to express our gratitude to the Guymon FFA for their incredible help with logistics, ensuring everything ran smoothly through the night, especially for the meal and during clean-up,” Kitting said.
It helps solidify the importance of the rodeo, which celebrates its 93rd year this spring.
“This community continues to show up for us, and that’s why this event was a success,” Stonecipher said.
Comment (1)
Beverly Strickland / February 24, 2025
Very interesting. I lived and worked in Guymon is the late 60’s & early 70’s. Most of the rodeo and ranch people from those days are long gone. Those. Pioneer Days in Guymon were “something else”. Spring weather is always interesting. Last time I was in Guymon for the event, the weather was so cold on Fri nite and a awful dirt storm on Sat evening and nite, Sun was hot and miserable. Keep on rodeo-ing and best to all the folks unknown to me.