The 97th Red Bluff Round-Up wraps up, remains America's largest 3-day rodeo

RED BLUFF, Calif. — Around 500 contestants saddled up Sunday for some of their final performances at the 2018 Red Bluff Round-Up.

At 97 years, the Round-Up continues to deliver as records are often broken and history is made in the arena.

"It is a huge rodeo. It's one of the top 20 in the PRCA but it is America's largest 3-day rodeo," General Manager, James Miller explained.

Miller is the husband of current World Champion Barrel Racer, Nellie Miller, who is a Tehama County native.

"It's definitely different every year. We bring the top stock contractors that bring the best stock and the best cowboys match it out here. Just like in the steer wrestling a minute ago, we had the world champion steer wrestler just win the Red Bluff Round-Up."

Miller took over as the Round-Up's GM four years ago. He states rodeo is a patriotic event. A change in tickets sales from in person to online has helped tremendously in the way they are able to reach some 31,000 rodeo fans.

"This year the Round-Up attracted people from 22 different states, just to be a spectator, and three international countries," said Miller. He noted that that number doesn't include the cowboys and cowgirls who compete.

According to Round-Up coordinators, nearly $900,000 was paid out to the winning cowboys and cowgirls in 2017.