The Canby Rodeo - “Innovation and Tradition”
The “Canby Rodeo” presented by the Clackamas county Fair, is held traditionally the 3rd week in August.
The first sanctioned rodeo in Canby was held in 1958 and was called the “Clackamas County Fair Rodeo”.
The rodeo held on the heels of a very poorly attended fair the previous year. The Fair reported that year
that “Fair attendance was down, gate receipts were down, and exhibitor participation was down”.
The Fair board realized that only a dramatic
economic change could solve the problem.
The Fair board sought out the help of Canby
resident Craig Landeen, a promoter of rodeo.
Landeen and his wife Marilyn were involved in
many facets of rodeo throughout the
Northwest, from participation to management.
Craig Landeen was asked for advice concerning
possibilities of a rodeo as an attraction to boost
attendance to the fair. With the blessing and
prompting of the Fair board, Landeen
developed a list of prospective stock
contractors, costs, risks, publicity possibilities,
rodeo format, and extra events. Landeen then
stunned the Fair board by proposing to squeeze
“four hours of rodeo excitement in only two
hours”! The Fair board liked the proposal!
)
“Same day slack and
same day performance”
simply means that timed
event competitors will
receive both of his or her
opportunities or “go
rounds” to compete on
the same day of the
rodeo. Making it more
economical for the
Cowboy and more
enjoyable for the fan!
)
Today, over 50 years later, spectators are still
treated to the tradition “four hours of rodeo
excitement in only two hours”. This innovative
idea makes Canby Rodeo one of the best rodeos
to watch in the Northwest!
Always striving to make a better rodeo, the
Canby Rodeo has recently implemented “Same
day slack and same day performance”.
“1915 County Fair” (photo of old horse race
track that encircles the present day arena area).
click photo to enlarge
“Present day” Clackamas County Fair and Canby Rodeo
click photo to enlarge
