68th Legislature 2023 HJ 7.1
1 HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 7
2 INTRODUCED BY M. MALONE, J. ESP, C. KNUDSEN, L. BISHOP, T. RUNNING WOLF, B. PHALEN, L.
3 BREWSTER, B. MITCHELL, A. BUCKLEY, S. ESSMANN, T. SMITH, R. MINER
4
5 A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF
6 MONTANA SUPPORTING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LIVINGSTON ROUNDUP RODEO'S 100
7 BUCKIN' YEARS EVENT.
8
9 WHEREAS, in 1924 Charley Murphy, owner of the Ox Yoke Ranch, now known as the Mountain Sky
10 Ranch, and other Livingston residents held the inaugural 3-day rodeo on Labor Day weekend, later known as
11 the Livingston Roundup Rodeo, with $2,500 in prize money—equivalent to $43,300 in 2024; and
12 WHEREAS, in 1924 a Livingston Roundup Rodeo ticket could be purchased for $1 from the rodeo
13 office located across the street from the Park Hotel; and
14 WHEREAS, this "Rodeo and Jamboree" event included 3 days of rodeo and 2 days of parades,
15 dances, and other entertainment in which "Livingston Streets were filled with exemplars of the early western
16 days swaggering about in bow-legged chaps and eye-filling shirts" (quoted from the 1924 Livingston
17 Enterprise); and
18 WHEREAS, the Rodeo was held on the "island"—now the Park County Fairgrounds—followed by a
19 dance at the "island pavilion", with other activities occurring in downtown Livingston designed not to "imitate the
20 Bozeman roundup" (quoted from the 1924 Livingston Enterprise, quoting the Bozeman Chronicle); and
21 WHEREAS, the Livingston Roundup Association was incorporated in 1928 with a stated purpose "to
22 give shows, rodeos, roundups, to hold riding contests, roping contests, bull-dogging contests, horse races and
23 to give on any and all other amusements in the City of Livingston or other places in the County of Park and any
24 and all money or profit over and above any and all expense of the operation shall be used for the purpose of
25 advertising the County of Park and for the purpose of beautifying the City of Livingston, Montana"; and
26 WHEREAS, 100 years seems like forever, but on July 2, 3, and 4, 2024, the century mark for the
27 Livingston Roundup Rodeo will be reached; and
28 WHEREAS, rodeos, such as the Livingston Roundup Rodeo, pay homage and tribute to the rich
-1- Authorized Print Version – HJ 7
68th Legislature 2023 HJ 7.1
1 western history, heritage, and lifestyle of the State of Montana and its residents; and
2 WHEREAS, agriculture and tourism are important foundations to the economy of the State of Montana;
3 and
4 WHEREAS, the Livingston Roundup Rodeo is now sanctioned by both the Professional Rodeo Cowboy
5 Association and the Women's Professional Rodeo Association with an estimated purse of $250,000 and is
6 attended by approximately 15,000 spectators; and
7 WHEREAS, these rodeo spectators come not only from Park and Gallatin Counties, but a substantial
8 portion come from all over the United States, Canada, and Europe, as the Livingston Roundup Rodeo has
9 become a destination event for those vacationing in Montana and Yellowstone National Park.
10
11 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF
12 THE STATE OF MONTANA:
13 That in 2024 there will be a celebration of the 100 Buckin' Years of the Livingston Roundup Rodeo.
14 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that all are encouraged to help plan, develop, participate in, and attend
15 the 100 Buckin' Years event in Livingston, Park County, Montana, on July 2, 3, and 4, 2024.
16 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Secretary of State send a copy of this resolution to the
17 Governor, all state agency directors, and to each member of the Montana Congressional Delegation.
18 - END -
-2- Authorized Print Version – HJ 7