Rodeos have been around in what is now North Dakota since the early
cattle drives brought cattle and ranching to the Northern Plains and
Badlands. The horse culture was there much earlier, as Native American
tribes used horses for transportation and hunting. Simpler than modern
events, early-day rodeos offered a Sunday recreational activity after
six days of hard work. Today's rodeo is much different than in the late
1800s and brings out a diverse audience--not just cowboys, cowgirls, and
ranchers but also city slickers, families, white- and blue-color
workers, and first-time visitors to the state and country.