Dale Yerigan, left, general manager of the International Professional Rodeo Association and Miss Rodeo USA Brittany Howard present a plaque to Dave Hazlet of North Washington Rodeo in recognition of being named one of the top five outdoor rodeos in the world.

The North Washington Rodeo is one of the top five outdoor rodeos in the world.

The rodeo was recognized by the International Professional Rodeo Association last weekend at the International Finals Rodeo in Oklahoma City, where the annual convention is held.

Dave Hazlet, chairman of the rodeo committee, traveled to Oklahoma where the rodeo was recognized along with four other rodeos and the top five indoor rodeos in the world.

North Washington has received the honor several times in its 59-year history and the new plaque will be displayed during the rodeo Aug. 14 to 18 at the rodeo grounds on Route 38 in Washington Township.

Hazlet said the award helps attract talented competitors and performers to the annual event in northern Butler County.

“What it does is, it ranks us highly with the contestants. The more contestants the better the rodeo,” he said.

The top five are not listed in any particular order, but the Calgary Stampede in Calgary, Canada, has been named the top rodeo for the last 20 years running.

The Calgary event is 10 days long and has $185,000 in prize money, making it hard to compete with.

“I'm hoping to get to No. 1. I'm not sure how we're going to get there, but that's our goal every year,” Hazlet said.

The rodeo includes bareback bronc riding, calf roping, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, cowgirls' barrel racing, cowgirls' breakaway roping, team roping and bull riding.

The proceeds support the North Washington Volunteer Fire Department.