After 17 Years, the Blue Mountain Rodeo returns to the Union County Fair

By on Thursday, April 3rd, 2025 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News

UNION COUNTY – After a seventeen-year hiatus, the Union County Fair is officially relaunching The Blue Mountain Rodeo July 30-31. Last hosting the rodeo in 2008, the fair is currently working with the P9 Rodeo Company to bring Union County residents’ the local rodeo of a lifetime at the Mavericks Arena, adjacent to the fairgrounds. 

According to Union County Fair Manager Kathey Gover-Shaw, the idea to bring back the Blue Mountain Rodeo came from P9’s Rodeo Producer and Stock Contractor Payton Pinz, whose grandfather used to organize the rodeo during its heyday. Pinz even told Elkhorn Media Group that it’s been a dream of his to return to La Grande and put on a rodeo.

 Though there has been interest in re-launching the rodeo for a number of years, Pinz and his company actually pitched the idea to the Union County Fair Board last year. This initial pitch expanded to a formal proposal and a quote for $24,000 dollars, with P9 continuing to spearhead the effort. To clarify, the Blue Mountain Rodeo is part of the Union County Fair, with P9 having been contracted to produce the rodeo, including providing bulls, horses, announcers, judges, bullfighters, rodeo staff, and equipment.

As for what’s being offered this year, Pinz promises a professional rodeo, including some of the top bull riders and bulls in the Pacific Northwest and a slew of local (and according to Pinz, very aggressive) barrel racers. Junior steer riding and barrel racing will be on offer as well, with the goal of helping local kids break into the rodeo scene. Rodeo veteran Jim Bob Custer will serve as this year’s announcer. 

Attendees at the rest of the fair can also expect entertainment on local stages, vendors for food and goodies, animal events, high octane lawnmower races, as well as various projects from the local 4H and FFA chapters. Both Pinz and Shaw mentioned how excited they were for the public to see everything new being offered, from the Blue Mountain Rodeo itself to new improvements to the fair buildings.

For questions about the 2025 Union County Fair, contact Kathy Gover-Shaw at 541-786-3733. For registration or rodeo participation questions, contact P9 Rodeo at 541-786-3733.

The 2025 Union County Fair is scheduled for July 30-August 2, with a parade on July 27. The Blue Mountain Rodeo will run July 30 and 31. Gates will open at 5 p.m. and the rodeo will kick off at 7 p.m. each day. For ticket and schedule information, visit https://unioncountyfair.org/. Tickets for the Blue Mountain Rodeo also cover admission for the fair.