North Washington Rodeo draws pros, fans from across country
WASHINGTON TWP — For one week each year, tiny Washington Township becomes a very busy place as thousands of fans flock to the annual North Washington Rodeo.
Between Tuesday, Aug. 12, and Saturday, Aug. 16, hundreds of professional rodeo competitors are competing in the traditional eight rodeo events of bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, tie-down roping, team roping, breakaway roping, cowgirl barrel racing and bull riding.
Rodeos have become a popular attraction across Pennsylvania with events in Tionesta, Fredonia, Centre Hall and even Philadelphia’s “8 Seconds Rodeo,” among others, dotting the calendar in 2025. But according to organizer Dave Hazlet III, the North Washington Rodeo was in a league of its own when it began 65 years ago.
“Rodeos in general have changed,” Hazlet said. “This was the only one in this part of the country. Now there’s rodeos everywhere we have to compete with. We have to put big prize money in to bring top contestants.”
Rick Helch, a regular spectator at the North Washington event, said it dwarfs another nearby rodeo in Pennsylvania which he recently attended with his brother Dan.
“We were out at Flying W Ranch (in Tionesta) two weeks ago and there wasn’t near the turnout compared to here,” Rick said.
More importantly, the rodeo is a fundraising lifeline for the North Washington Volunteer Fire Department. According to Hazlet, last year’s rodeo brought in $130,000 in for the fire department and every penny counts.
“We just had to put a new water well in,” said assistant fire chief Ryan Enscoe. “It was not cheap. $80,000 for a new DEP-permitted water well.”
Last year, the fire department competed the last of its payments for a brand-new, $400,000 tanker truck which was delivered in the summer of 2023 from a Minnesota company.
Hazlet expects between 12,000 and 15,000 people will come through the gates of the specially-constructed rodeo grounds, which can seat up to 5,000 at a time. The rodeo is the only time during the year when the massive stadium is regularly used, although the adjacent social hall — used for the post-rodeo dinner each night — does see some use throughout the year for other functions.
Announcer Jerry Todd calls rodeos around the country, but he said the North Washington Rodeo is one-of-a-kind.
“It’s been here for 65 years now, so it’s proven itself. A lot of rodeos come and go, but this one right here has proven itself over a 65-year span,” Todd said. “It is kind of the rodeo capital of the east. A lot of cowboys across the country know about North Washington and know about Butler because of this rodeo.”
Some of the big names in the sport, such as 2009 PRCA national champion Clovis Crane, are regular competitors at North Washington. This year, Crane brought two of his daughters, Dalia and Rosey, to compete in the cowgirl barrel racing event.
“I’ve competed here 15 times and my father competed here when I was a kid,” Crane said. “This is a great rodeo with a lot of tradition and the committee always does a great job.”
The annual rodeo wraps up on Saturday, Aug. 16.
