Piece of History: 1956 rodeo drew thousands

Linda Veach of Trenton, Mo., was one of four female trick riders who participated in the Midwest Championship Rodeo on Aug. 17, 1956, at the All-Iowa Fair at Hawkeye Downs in Cedar Rapids.

Veach rode past the grandstand, hanging on by one stirrup and the saddle horn, before 5,000 people.

The program for Friday included a Garrison band concert, a performance by the YWCA Whirlettes, the introduction of Miss Universe (Carol Morris of Ottumwa), and the Midwest Championship Rodeo.

The rodeo included both Western skills and clowning and was repeated on Saturday night, despite rain all weekend.

Rodeo producer Bob Barnes was quoted in the Aug. 18 Gazette about the weather: “The livestock don't care, and the cowboys don't care. All we're ever concerned about is the crowd, and they have a covered grandstand at Hawkeye Downs.”

He must have been right because total attendance for the All-Iowa Fair in 1956 was over 97,000.

Tara Templeman is curator at The History Center. Comments: curator@historycenter.org