Elgin Stampede returns July 8-11 with rodeo, parade and dances

The 79th Elgin Stampede will fill downtown Elgin and the Stampede Grounds from July 8 through July 11, bringing four days of rodeo, parades and dances into one of Union County’s busiest summer stretches. The event’s mix of competition and community activity will pull visitors into town, with restaurants, shops and lodging likely to feel the added pressure and benefit that come when the Stampede is in full swing.

Family Night will open the run on Wednesday and is free to attend, making it one of the easiest entry points for local families and visitors who want to be part of the weekend without buying a ticket. Thursday will bring the Ty Hallgarth Memorial Xtreme Broncs & Barrel Race, followed by PRCA rodeo action on Friday. Saturday will shift the center of gravity into downtown Elgin at 4 p.m. for the Grand Parade, then back to the Stampede Grounds for the final PRCA performance.

That schedule gives the weekend a different rhythm than a typical summer Saturday in Union County. Parade traffic will concentrate crowds in the downtown core before the evening rodeo, while the four-day lineup keeps visitors in and around Elgin longer than a one-night event would. Organizers are already pushing tickets, sponsors and event information as the July dates approach, signaling a full turnout for an event that has grown out of a volunteer-driven celebration of western life.

This year’s grand marshal, Jerry Rysdam, brings that local history into sharper focus. A La Grande native raised at Cricket Flat, Rysdam grew up around horses, ranching and rodeo. The Stampede says he spent decades as drillmaster for the Elgin Stampeders Drill Team, helping train riders and horses while also mentoring others in the rodeo community. His selection reflects the Stampede’s long-running link to the people who have kept it going, from parade organizers to drill team members and the volunteers who turn the week into a county-wide gathering.