In 1955, a group of Longford residents gathered to discuss the idea of hosting a rodeo. It came about when Fred Green, a rodeo competitor, mentioned the idea to Lloyd Nichols. Soon they got two more residents involved, Sherm Lyles and John Carson. 

The crew met at a local bank, inviting area business owners, farmers, and ranchers to attend. The first meeting was productive with a crew organized and positions assigned. Lyles, a local rancher, became an officer and served as president of the club for 33 years in total. Nichols became president and also served for 33 years. Carson became secretary and Green became arena director. In addition, Joe Rush was treasurer; when Green retired, Clarence Bergmeier took over as director.

This was accomplished in the spring, leaving the summer to lay groundwork for an arena, along with a saddle club. 

Wava Kramer, Longford resident who has been involved in the Rodeo for decades, said some initial pens were built from chicken wire while their posts were dug by hand. All of this was done in a corner pasture area owned by T.L. Welch, who gave permission for the construction. Loren Nichols, another Rodeo Club member, remembers digging holes at age 13 when Green informed them they were in the wrong spot and needed to move four feet to the left. 

Soon, the Longford Lions Club joined to help fund and volunteer with the project. Chutes and pens were also installed, all through volunteer labor. 

By the following fall, the grounds were functional to host its first rodeo event, Kramer said. September of 1956 housed the first rodeo on a Thursday and Friday evening. Nearly 1,500 people attended over two days – more than eight times the population of Longford at the time; in 1950 the town reported an all-time high of 178 residents. 

In addition, the town hosted their first pre-rodeo parade, which featured performances from the high school band and floats from country schools. 

The first free barbecue was also held opening year, headed by Pete Adams.

Wooden bleachers were hauled in from Chapman, Clay Center, and Minneapolis to provide enough seating for all. 

Meanwhile, animals were brought in via contract, which included bare-back bronc riding, calf roping, steer wrestling, and bull riding. 

Entry fees ranged from $1 to $10, with $100 of added money, $25 each for four events: bareback bronc riding, calf roping, steer wrestling, and Brahma bull riding. (About $1,200 in 2025 funds.)

Added money is extra prize money that a rodeo committee contributes to the total prize pool for each event, in addition to the entry fees paid by contestants. Today, the Longford Rodeo hosts $26,000 in added money, a steep comparison to their original. 

The inaugural event was led by a parade at 5 with the Longford Band, Round-Up Club, cowboys, and an old-time buggy, followed by the free barbecue event at 6, and the rodeo at 8. 

Club member, Ralph Clark’s daughter, performed as a Roman Rider. While Charles “Floyd” Rumford, Jr. was the event’s stock provider from Abbyville, KS. 

Longford High School’s first paper of the year, dated September 1956, reported 60  cowboys, including Little Bronchio Rumford, the World’s Smallest Bronc Rider. Floyd’s son, Charles Rumford III, AKA Bronc, began riding at 3 as part of the traveling show. 

Ten-time PRCA Rodeo Clown of the year and Bronc’s son, Justin “Rumpshaker” Rumford, said in the 50s and 60s, Floyd couldn’t afford a specialty act, which prompted him to use his sons as rodeo acts. 

Longford continued with Rumford, which was taken over by Bronc, for 50 years before changing to the New Frontier Rodeo Company out of Roxbury. 

Participants traveled from Texas, Idaho, and Georgia, and competed in front of a 700-person crowd. 

The paper also announced the event to be a “huge, rip-roaring success.” 

Between 1957 and 1959, a set of nine new bleachers were built by the high school’s vo-ag classes, with help from volunteers.  

At some point, the annual rodeo was changed to the First Friday and Saturday in September, then to Labor Day Weekend.

By 196,1 the ground had changed owners and it was rented from Elwood Everett. Meanwhile, Carson moved and was replaced by Bergmeier, who held the position for more than three decades. 

Annual rodeos continued through the years, and members began making upgrades to the area as funds were available. In the late 80s, fencing and bucking chutes were replaced. New roping and dogging chutes and pens were also constructed; these were placed at the north end of the event’s arena. 

Then 1990 saw more changes with a new food stand and the addition of a Saturday night dance. Kramer said this was put in to provide more events surrounding the rodeo and to give folks something to do. This also included races and games held for children on Saturday afternoon. 

By 1993, new pens allowed rodeo participants to keep animals housed overnight. While a hospitality tent was placed for sponsors, volunteers, and participants to find refreshments throughout the weekend. In 1995 a food stand was built on the west side of the area, providing one on each side, along with a new announcer’s stand. Then 1999 brought new seating. 

In more recent years, the rodeo has joined the professional circuit as a sanctioned rodeo of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association or PRCA. Professionals travel from states away to compete in the Prairie section event. Today, they host six PRCA events: saddle bronc, bareback, calf roping, steer wrestling, bull riding, and team roping. They also have two events from the WPRA: barrel racing and breakaway roping.

In its decades of existence, the Longford Rodeo has also become a full-weekend event, including live music, activities for kids, like money dig and turtle/frog races, up to the rodeos themselves. More is available on the website.