The Pretty Prairie Rodeo, known for decades as Kansas’ Largest Night Rodeo, is in its 89th season this year.
Pretty Prairie native Julie Graber has been involved with the rodeo her entire life. For the past 27 years, she has been a member of the Pretty Prairie Rodeo’s Booster Club Board of Directors and the booster club secretary for about 15 years. The rodeo was first held on Julie’s grandparents’ farm in 1934.
According to a program from the Pretty Prairie Rodeo’s 50th Anniversary, a group of steer, cattle and horse-roping buddies: Harry Graber, Merle “Smick” Graber, and Harry Kautzer, who had competed in rodeos in the area decided to hold their own out at the farm of Henry J. Graber (Harry’s father) on Thanksgiving Day, 1934. They named it the Reno and Kingman County Rodeo. The event included calf roping, steer riding, relay races, wild cow milking, bronc riding, bulldogging, and a maverick race. Admission was 10 cents for children and 25 cents for adults. It was an overall success despite it being so cold that the riders had to wear heavy gloves and coats and the audience were huddled inside their cars around the pasture.
In 1935, Pretty Prairie High School football coach W.W. Graber made a momentous decision to add lights to the football field.
The football team had lost their opening game that season at Pratt 12-7. It had been the first time the team played under lights. Both Pratt and Hutchinson had lights on their field and Coach Graber decided that if they wanted to have a winning season, the Pretty Prairie should add lights to theirs. As a result, eight poles (60ft) were installed at the high school field. The football team didn’t lose a game while playing under the lights that season.
In September of 1936, W.W. Graber joined Harry Graber, Merle Graber and Harry Kautzer in sponsoring the first Pretty Prairie Night Rodeo, held under the lights at the high school football field. The rodeo would later earn the nickname, “Kansas’ Largest Night Rodeo”.
Julie Graber noted that there was one year early on that the rodeo didn’t happen, which is why there have only been 89 rodeos since the first official one back in 1936.
“It’s so nice to have so many people come out to our event in our small town and choose that as their entertainment choice,” Graber said.
The Rodeo has been such a success due to the dedication of the Pretty Prairie community. Several families have dedicated years to it and many people grew up volunteering as soon as they were able to.
“The only reason it has grown is because so many people have volunteered their time to make it what it is now,” Graber said.
The Rodeo is able to give back to the Pretty Prairie community by donating money back into the school, FFA, and many other local organizations.
“It’s just always been special to me because it’s so fun,” Graber said. “And when you’re involved in the sport of rodeo, you get to meet so many people, and not just the fans that come in, but the contestants that come in, and the contract personnel and you just make a lot of good quality long-term friends.”
The 2026 Pretty Prairie Rodeo (July 15-18, 2026) is sanctioned by PRCA (ProRodeo Cowboys Association) and features PRCA cowboys and WPRA cowgirls and award-winning bucking stock from Beutler & Son Rodeo of Elk City, Okla.
“In the past 50 years, we’ve only had two rodeo announcers,” Graber said. “One of them being Hadley Barrett and one of them being Randy Corley.”
Corley announced his retirement from the rodeo last year, so this year Anthony Lucia , three-time PRCA Announcer of the Year, will step into the role.
“He comes from a longstanding rodeo family,” Graber said. “We’re very excited to have him.”
Joining Lucia in entertaining the crowd will be PRCA Rodeo Clown Rockin’ Robbie Hodges.
Not necessarily new, but something that started a few years ago is Women’s Breakaway Roping.
“It is something that is newer to professional rodeo,” Graber said. “We’ll be having that for the third year, so that’s exciting. It gives the ladies another event in which they can compete.”
A dance will follow each night after the rodeo. Steel Skarecrow will take the stage on Wednesday and Thursday and Prairie Smoke will perform on Friday and Saturday.
“When the bulls start busking, the band will start playing over on the dance floor, right there on the rodeo ground, and it is free with your rodeo tickets,” Graber announced. “So we give you a whole night worth of entertainment. You come to the rodeo, then stay for dancing under the stars.”
Get your tickets while you can! Performances on Friday, July 17 and Saturday, July 18 are already sold out. Purchase tickets online at pprodeo.com, and in person at Woodard Mercantile in Maize, A5 Western in Hutchinson, or the Pretty Prairie Rodeo Office (620-459-6205).
