EFFIE- The grandstands at North Star Ranch will come alive once again this weekend as one of northern Minnesota’s longest-running traditions returns for its 71st year.
The North Star Stampede opens Friday, July 24, with a 5 p.m. performance, followed by 2 p.m. rodeos Saturday and Sunday. Hosted at North Star Ranch near Effie, the open rodeo draws competitors ranging from seasoned circuit riders to local cowboys and cowgirls eager to test their skills in one of Minnesota’s premier open competitions.
More than seven decades after it began, the Stampede remains intentionally old fashioned. Run continuously by the Pitzen family in the same arena throughout its history, it is the only rodeo in North America with that distinction. Organizers have deliberately preserved the feel of a classic 1950s ranch rodeo, emphasizing traditional events rather than elaborate production.
That commitment to tradition remains part of the event’s appeal. The Stampede continues to emphasize the events that have defined rodeo for generations, from bareback and saddle bronc riding to bull riding, barrel racing, team roping, breakaway roping, steer wrestling and ranch bronc riding. Junior bull riding and novice bareback riding also return, giving younger competitors and newcomers a chance to showcase their talents.
As an open rodeo, the Stampede welcomes competitors from across the region rather than limiting entries to a professional circuit. Saturday’s entry list alone includes contestants from Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota and Kansas, with several Iron Range riders expected to compete as well.
Cimarron Pitzen said preparations have come together smoothly after last year’s soggy weekend.
“I think we’re going to be in better shape this year than last year, weather-wise,” he said. “Everything’s looking good. We’ll have another great rodeo. The rodeo ground and the campground are super dry right now. People can drive anywhere, and I’ve got Jesse Larson from Duluth coming to clown the rodeo.”
Larson has developed a strong reputation on the rodeo circuit as both an entertainer and a barrelman. Fellow rodeo professionals praise his quick timing, crowd interaction and family friendly humor, while noting his ability to keep spectators engaged between events and step in when needed to help protect riders in the arena.
With campfire restrictions in effect across parts of northeastern Minnesota, questions have arisen about whether they apply at the North Star Ranch campground. While the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has issued campfire restrictions in portions of the nearby George Washington State Forest, Pitzen said those restrictions do not currently apply to the privately owned rodeo grounds.
“The sheriff’s department, the fire department are going to be on hand here all weekend anyway,” he said. “So if they didn’t want us burning, they’d let us know. People just need to use some common sense, use their fire rings, and don’t run away and leave them burning.”
Like many family ranch rodeos, the North Star Stampede is built as much on tradition as competition. Much of the work behind the scenes is handled by an extended family of relatives, friends, and longtime volunteers who return year after year.
The rodeo also takes time each year to remember those who helped build that tradition. During the annual Empty Saddle ceremony, organizers honor members of the rodeo family who have died during the past year.
Among those being remembered this year is Matt Sheppard, a longtime ranch hand and rodeo helper who spent more than two decades working alongside the Pitzen family. Pitzen said Sheppard helped with everything from pulling chute gates during the rodeo to hauling bucking broncs to competitions across the region, and even accompanied him on trips to the famed bucking horse sale in Miles City, Mont. After Sheppard died in June, he was laid to rest in the cemetery at North Star Ranch, another reflection of the close-knit community that has grown around the rodeo over seven decades.
The weekend also includes Effie’s annual Rodeo Daze celebration. Food and craft vendors will be on hand throughout the weekend, while Saturday’s activities include a parade at 7 p.m., kids games, a pie social, a community boot hunt, and other family events.
Admission to the rodeo is $20 for adults and $10 for children ages 6 to 13. Three day passes are available for $50 for adults and $20 for children, with a three day pass required for anyone camping at the rodeo grounds.
For many spectators, though, the attraction is less about the schedule than the atmosphere.
Seventy years after the first riders entered the arena, the North Star Stampede continues to offer something increasingly rare, a classic ranch rodeo where competitors, volunteers and spectators gather for a weekend that feels as much like a family reunion as a sporting event.