Oregon Public Broadcasting

The Pendleton Round-Up wrapped up over the weekend, with the Happy Canyon Indian Pageant on Saturday night.

But already, organizers are beginning plans for next year’s 100th anniversary of the Round-Up.

Ethan Lindsey reports.

An estimated 50,000 people visit Pendleton every year for the second largest rodeo in the country.

Erik Svenson: “When you magnify or multiply the amount of people that come into this town this time of year, it’s huge.”

Erik Svenson is at the Round-Up. He’s the vice president of sales with Hood River Distillers. His company makes a Pendleton Whiskey, with the famous Pendleton buckin’ bronco logo on the bottle.

He says companies like his benefit from the old west feeling that the Round-Up celebrates.

Organizers hope next year could be even bigger – it’s the 100th anniversary of the first Round-Up, held in 1910.

Erik Svenson: “You see some construction, some improvements of all the facilities, that will be just wonderful for all of us to enjoy next year.’

The rodeo brings in an estimated $20 million to the local economy.