Pioneers would love Utah rodeos

If you hear people talking about hazing, heelers and hooeys, slip on your Wranglers, boots and hat because it's the heart of rodeo season.

Bulldoggers, bullfighters and pick-up men are in arenas across the West in what is the busiest time of year for cowboys and cowgirls hoping for a shot at the National Finals Rodeo in November.

And Utah isn't just a hotbed of rodeos, it boasts some of the best, most storied and revered contests in the country. The heavy weights this week are Ogden's Pioneer Days Rodeo, the Days of '47 Rodeo and Spanish Fork Fiesta Days Rodeo.

For decades these rodeos have been reminding Utahns of their pioneer heritage by showcasing the sport born out of ranching duties. Nothing like watching some of the same events those original families did to help you appreciate just how difficult it might have been to build cities in the desert.

And while they went to work raising cattle, planting crops and praying for rain, they took time to celebrate their arrival in their new home. Just two years after the pioneers arrived in 1847 they held their first parade and rodeo. The community just came together and cowboys challenged each other to contests that showed off their roping and riding skills.

It wasn't until 1943 that officials changed the name of the celebration marking the arrival of Mormon pioneers in the Salt Lake Valley to the Days of '47 Celebration. The rodeo that accompanied that celebration was held at the Utah State Fairpark, then the Delta Center and last year it moved to the newly-named Maverik Center in West Valley City.

Celebrating its 67th year as the Days of '47 Rodeo, the competition begins Monday at 7 p.m.

There are promotions that run with each night's rodeo and several nights offer $5 tickets to see one of the country's most respected rodeos. Tickets are available at the box office or through Smithtix.

The Spanish Fork Fiesta Days even includes the youngsters with a mutton busting competition. It runs Wednesday through Saturday. They conclude the rodeo with fireworks and tickets are available at the box office.

The oldest of the three is the Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo, which is celebrating its 77th Anniversary. This rodeo is held outdoors in downtown Ogden in the same stadium where the community first started holding organized rodeos.

The shows begin Tuesday and run through Saturday, and tickets are available at the box office or online at www.spanishfork.org.