75 Years of Tradition

The Franklin Rodeo through the Years

Since 1949, the Franklin Rodeo has returned to Williamson County every spring, bringing top-tier cowboys and cowgirls to Franklin’s stomping grounds. This year, the Franklin Rodeo will be held on May 14^th, 15^th and 16^th showcasing time-honored events such as bull riding, calf roping, barrel racing and bareback riding. The rodeo welcomes over 18,000 fans each year, making it one of the largest in the Southeast. Though full of spectacle, the show is not merely about entertainment - the Franklin Rodeo is rooted in purpose.

Franklin’s Rodeo was first imagined in the 1940s by the newly formed Franklin Noon Rotary Club. In their search for a meaningful fundraising effort, the club set out to capture the community’s spirit - how best to represent the rural, agricultural community of Franklin? After seventy-five years, it’s safe to say, they found their answer.

Back in 1948, when the proposed Rodeo was little more than an exciting idea, the Franklin Noon Rotary Club had less than a handful of members who had ever seen a real-life rodeo - Dr. Harry Guffee, alongside Texans John and Preston Fowlkes and Bob Carley. The four then became the spearheads for the soon-to-be tradition of the rodeo. Ed Moody, who would later manage the Franklin Rodeo from the 1950s to 1984, also played a vital role in the formative years.

The very first Franklin Rodeo was held on May 6, 1949. Alongside the main event, a parade was held. Led by then-Tennessee Governor Gordon Browning and accompanied by local Rotarians, the Franklin High School and Columbia Military Academy bands, around a thousand 4-H children and families, and, of course, the visiting cowboys. Residents of Franklin joined in on the parade on horseback, as many rode their horses into town to commemorate the new event.

The first couple of decades of the rodeo brought many challenges to be overcome, including fluctuating success due to unpredictable weather. More than once, the rodeo was put on the chopping block, potentially facing cancellation, but the Rotarians’ belief in the event persisted, and the rodeo carried on - the tenacity of their beliefs serving as the foundation for what would become an enduring legacy. The Franklin Rodeo, which brings with it enormous amounts of anticipation and exhilaration in the community every spring, attests to the resilience of the Franklin Noon Rotary Club, as well as the community it serves.

Believe it or not, the Franklin Rodeo is more than just horseplay. Since its founding, the rodeo has affected countless lives with philanthropic efforts, raising funds for a wide range of community initiatives. In their first few years, Franklin faced a shortage of medical professionals, which spurred their efforts to provide scholarships to local students pursuing medical and dental degrees. When public schools needed band uniforms and library books, the rodeo delivered. Back when admission tickets were merely sixty cents, attendees of the Franklin Rodeo could be assured that they would not only have an incredible experience but that their money would be put to good use - celebrating the community while simultaneously supporting it.

Looking back on The Franklin Rodeo’s seventy-five successful years, it is clear to see that the event has become a cornerstone of the community. Though the event has undergone changes, such as the addition of an air-conditioned arena, the rodeo always finds a way to connect the past and present. What began as a creative solution to local fundraising has grown into a lasting, and defining, tradition - one that continues to bring people together year after year. And while the phrase may be all too familiar, for Franklin, this truly isn’t the first rodeo. It’s a legacy built on generations of shared experience, community pride and a steadfast commitment to giving back.

To buy tickets for the Franklin Rodeo, visit franklinrodeo.com.