GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — On a warm spring Thursday, the University Center Plaza at CMU looked less like a college campus and more like a country fair. Free food sizzled on the grill. A mechanical bull bucked furiously as students dared each other to last more than five seconds. Country music blasted from portable speakers. And tucked between booths and hay bales, members of the Maverick Rodeo Team mingled with classmates, proudly showing off their belt buckles and boots.
It was the official Rodeo Roundup — the kickoff party for CMU’s Northwestern Mutual Maverick Stampede Rodeo — and spirits were running high.
Western Culture Takes Center Stage
You could feel it in the crowd: a mix of energy, curiosity, and old-fashioned pride. This wasn’t just another college event. For CMU, rodeo isn’t some nostalgic nod to the past — it’s a point of pride. And for many in Grand Junction, it’s personal.
“I grew up around rodeos,” said Kylie Thompson, a sophomore studying exercise science. “It’s not just about horses or bulls. It’s a culture. It’s family. It’s showing grit and cheering people on when they get thrown off and still get back up.”
The Rodeo Roundup on April 10 brought that feeling to life in full color.
One student tried the mechanical bull three times before he gave up. A little girl pet a sleepy goat resting in a petting zoo pen. The crowd laughed when someone spilled lemonade, only for it to be caught in a cowboy hat. Real scenes. Real people.
Not Just a Spectacle — A Show of School Spirit
Ask any CMU rodeo athlete and they’ll tell you — this isn’t a side hobby. It’s hard work. Training begins early and ends late. Horses aren’t just pets, they’re teammates. And while most universities lean into sports like football and basketball, CMU has carved out something a bit different.
Levi Allen, a competitor on CMU’s rodeo team, put it simply: “It’s nice to bring something different to the table. We might not fill stadiums, but we bring energy and heart.”
That was evident all over campus this week. Posters advertising the Stampede hung on bulletin boards. Professors in dusty boots gave nods to passing students in cowboy hats. You could almost hear a collective “yee-haw” in the air.
The Stampede Heads to the Fairgrounds
The big show kicks off April 11 and continues through April 12 at the Mesa County Fairgrounds. For those unfamiliar with rodeo events, here’s what the weekend promises:
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Bull riding
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Barrel racing
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Team roping
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Saddle bronc riding
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Steer wrestling
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Breakaway roping
CMU students and staff? They get in for free. For everyone else, tickets are available online and at the gate.
What’s different this year? More seating, better lighting, and a few new food trucks that organizers hope will help draw an even bigger crowd than last year’s estimated 2,000 attendees.
A Look at the Numbers
CMU’s rodeo program isn’t just some club—it’s part of a growing Western sports trend on college campuses, especially across the Mountain West.
Here’s a quick glance at college rodeo participation across Colorado schools:
| University | Rodeo Team Status | Annual Event Attendance | Founded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Mesa University | Active | ~2,000 | 2013 |
| Colorado State University | Active | ~3,500 | 1949 |
| University of Northern Colorado | Inactive | N/A | N/A |
| Western Colorado University | Club-Level | ~900 | 2008 |
CMU’s program, while relatively young compared to CSU’s long-standing team, has made huge strides. Its riders compete in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA), holding their own against more seasoned programs.
More Than Buckles and Boots
While the rodeo itself is a spectacle — dirt flying, crowds roaring — there’s another layer to it all.
“A lot of these kids are first-generation students,” said Hannah Martinez, one of the event’s student organizers. “Rodeo helped get them here. It gave them a scholarship, a purpose, something to work toward.”
She paused, watching a group of volunteers set up chairs.
“And it’s not just about competing. It’s about belonging.”
The event creates a space where locals and students rub shoulders, where young kids see cowboys up close, and where alumni come back wearing their old CMU jackets and remember their own college days.
CMU’s Stampede Isn’t Slowing Down
Even as the landscape of college sports shifts and tight budgets force schools to rethink their priorities, CMU is doubling down on rodeo. Administrators say the Stampede is becoming a signature event — a tradition that connects campus to community.
“This is our Super Bowl,” said one senior in a denim jacket, proudly snapping selfies in front of the mechanical bull. “Except, you know, with less pads and more dirt.”
CMU’s rodeo athletes are expected to perform strong again this year. And with an unusually mild forecast for April in Grand Junction — highs near 75°F — there’s little stopping the crowds from showing up in full force.
The countdown is over. The boots are dusted. The bulls are waiting.
