CRESWELL – With its traditional Grand Parade and a day that’s chock-full of fun activities, the rodeo returns for the second consecutive year to add even more action to the scene.
Now, thanks to a local family who wanted to do something special and long-lasting for their hometown, Creswell has a new tradition to put on its annual Fourth of July things-to-do list: the Hell on Hooves Tour rodeo.
The 2nd annual Creswell Post Acute Roughstock Rodeo Freedom Festival begins Saturday at 3 p.m. For the third straight year, the event – held next to Emerald Valley Dental at 195 Melton Rd. – has sold out.
“The Hell on Hooves Tour was created about 10 years ago,” said Courtney Long, who wears plenty of cowboy hats as the tour’s co-owner – she’s in charge of event production, music, ticketing, security, and secretarial duties, among others. “It was the idea of extracting the most exciting parts of rodeo and putting them into a production that captures an audience for 90-120 minutes of adrenaline-filled action. Bull Riding, Saddle Bronc Riding, Barrel Racing, Mutton Bustin, as well as some fun additions like Freestyle Moto Cross Jumpers at the Creswell Freedom Festival event.
“The idea to have a rodeo in Creswell has been a longtime dream of (my husband) Phil Long’s. He has always been passionate about his town and about bringing what our family does to our hometown, where we raise our kids, where we live, and where we have built our business’s home base. Wayne White, my father and the voice of the Hell on Hooves Tour, had been the longtime announcer for the Eugene Pro Rodeo. In 2024, Wayne decided to announce his last performance at the Eugene Rodeo, and that is when Phil knew that he could then put into action the event he had been planning in his head for years.”
So far, the rodeo has caught on like Taylor Swift at a high school pep rally. By joining the Fourth of July festivities, the Longs aren’t bucking a tradition; they’re just hopping on board.
And the talent that’s competing is first-rate, too.
“We have cowboys coming from all over the Northwest, California, Idaho and Arizona,” Long said. “In the rodeo world, the Fourth of July is considered Cowboy Christmas because there are so many rodeos that you can travel to win money that it is like Christmas to cowboys. In this area alone, there are six rodeos in a 100-mile radius. This draws cowboys and cowgirls from all over the United States to the Pacific Northwest during the Fourth of July.”
Among the top pros entered this weekend are Justin Houston, a PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association) Columbia River Circuit Finalist, who’s entered in the Bull Riding; and Greg Koehler, Matt Shannon, and Seth Hart, all PRCA Saddle Bronc Riders.
The doors open Saturday at 1 p.m., at which time sign-ups begin for the Mutton Bustin’ competition. Children must be at least 4 years old, weigh at least 55 pounds, and be accompanied by a parent to be eligible to register.
The current spot on Melton Road where the rodeo is being set up is owned by Dr. Matthew Bahen, who instantly supported the idea to host the Creswell rodeo and supported all the efforts to get the event off the ground. Phil and Dr. Bahen are hopeful that it will be held annually in the same location.
The Locke Buildings Hell on Hooves Tour travels Oregon and Washington year-round. After Creswell, the next stop is the Linn County Fair in Albany on July 16, followed by the Polk County Fair in Rickreall (near Salem) on Aug. 6. For a list of upcoming tour stops, check out hellonhoovestour.com.
