The St. Paul Rodeo is adding a new event for the first time since 1977 — and it’s the second event for women.

Next week’s rodeo will be the first to feature breakaway roping, a women’s event that’s been called “the fastest sport in rodeo.” A good run lasts less than two seconds, and can earn professional breakaway ropers thousands of dollars.

Breakaway roping is a modified form of tie-down roping. In this version, a cowgirl on horseback ropes a running calf. When the cowgirl stops her horse, the rope attached to the horse’s saddle breaks away, and the run is over. (In tie-down roping, a cowboy dismounts his horse and proceeds to tie down the roped calf.)

The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association started including breakaway roping at some events in 2019. It’s the second event sanctioned by the Women’s Pro Rodeo Association to be added to PRCA events, behind barrel racing.

The last time the St. Paul Rodeo added a new event was team roping in 1977, according to Kevin Smith, a former board member and historian of the St. Paul Rodeo. The rodeo’s first women’s event — barrel racing — was added in 1974.

Among the breakaway ropers competing in St. Paul this year are Jodi and Josie Goodrich, a mother-daughter duo from Stanfield, Oregon.

Josie, 22, competed in college rodeo at Washington State University in both barrel racing and breakaway roping, but plans to focus on breakaway roping in her pro career.

“It’s really exciting for us, because (St. Paul) is one of the biggest rodeos in the nation, and everybody that rodeos comes here,” Josie was quoted as saying in a press release from the St. Paul Rodeo. “The fact that breakaway ropers get to be a part of it is exciting.”

Her mom, Jodi, said the addition of the event “sets a precedent for other rodeos to hopefully follow suit next year.”

In addition to breakaway roping, the other sanctioned events in St. Paul are bareback riding, steer wrestling, bull riding, tie-down roping, saddle bronc riding, team roping and barrel racing.

This year’s St. Paul Rodeo takes place July 2-6, with rodeo performances starting nightly at 7:30 p.m. and a July 4 matinee at 1:30 p.m. Fireworks take place following each evening performance; the annual Independence Day parade is July 4 at 10 a.m. Tickets are $20-$60 and available at stpaulrodeo.com.

Looking for more July Fourth celebrations? See our guide to Oregon parades, rodeos, live music and fireworks.

-- Samantha Swindler covers features for The Oregonian/OregonLive and Here is Oregon. Reach her at sswindler@oregonian.com.

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