Thunder Mountain Pro Rodeo

Throughout the years, our specialty acts, rodeo clowns, and barrelmen have been delighting audiences during rodeo time. From Troy Lerwill to JJ Harrison, from The Kiesner Family to Kevin Higley, and from Kyle Bode to our beloved Haley Proctor -- the fun, sights, and memories NEVER STOP during Rodeo time.

Have you been to the show? Who was your favorite specialty act?

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Sharing for those that knew and loved Ron. He was part of the heart and soul that brought the Thunder Mountain Pro Rodeo to all of our contestants and fans, we'll miss him tremendously.

As the Lewis County Rodeo Queen, I had the opportunity to attend the Grays Harbor Mounted Posse Rodeo in Elma, Washington. This was the first Rodeo of the NPRA season! My horse Ellie and I had a great time attending. It was a very fun Rodeo and I got the chance to meet some other lovely royalty as well.

sincerely,

Your 2025 to 2026 Lewis County Rodeo Queen Kylee

Have you ever noticed at rodeo that there are A LOT of folks that keep our event running smoothly? The volunteers that work on the bucking chutes ready our animals with their flanks, halters, (sometimes) saddles, and other gear to ensure they're ready for their 8-second close-up.

When finished, and after they've been delivered back to the stripping chutes by our Pickup Men, a different set of volunteers then works to "strip" the animal of their gear, and give them a visual inspection before they get to head off to relax for the evening.

Have you ever worked this job? WOULD YOU work this job? Let us know and show some love for our volunteers!

Do you remember the first time you came to the rodeo?

The sights, the smells, the energy -- all wrapped up into an evening of sharing fries and a lemonade until you eventually fall asleep on the bench and are carried back to the car.

Sigh...hang on y'all, we're almost there. 🐎🤠

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In honor of our 50th Anniversary this year, we dug through some old vintage photos to share. Can you name any of the folks in these?

+ Did you know that when the rodeo began, you couldn't listen to music on demand? You had to listen to the radio or attend a live event to indulge.
+ We'd been bringing the thunder for nearly sixteen years before y'all had access to the internet as we know it today.

And we know most of y'all know this one-- but we're actually older than our OWN NAME -- we used to be the Cowlitz County Fair + Rodeo until Mt St Helens blew, which prompted committeeman George Moore to suggest we rename ourselves the Thunder Mountain Pro Rodeo

Wild, right? Y'all are part of a legacy that has literally outlasted the Soviet Union and the cassette tape!

has held the reins of announcing our rodeo for many years, and we know our rodeo family would love to show him some love! A quick Google states that he's the finest announcer in the American West, and we wholeheartedly agree -- he's even won the NPRA Announcer of the Year Award time and time again.

Give it up for the guy that shows up year after year, brings the thunder, and loves on our community + our country with his whole heart 👇🏼🐎🤠

Photo credits: , .photography , .photography__ ,