It is Happening! The PRCA Rodeo at the Santa Barbara Old Spanish Days Stock Horse Show & Rodeo!
Bienvenidos A Todos!!!! Viva La Fiesta!!!! This weekend Santa Barbara, California, is the place to be! PRCA California Circuit Rodeo action is underway at the Earl Warren Show Grounds Arena.
Editors Note: The Santa Barbara Old Spanish Days Stock Horse Show and Rodeo is part of the PRCA California Circuit. The PRCA/WPRA California Circuit Finals Rodeo will be held October 7 & 8, 2016, at the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds in Lancaster, California. The top 12 PRCA CA Circuit Cowboys and Cowgirls, in each event, will rope and ride for the Circuit Championships and Year End Championships at this event. For more info, please visit website /Facebook (we would love for you to give us a "Like").
The Santa Barbara Old Spanish Days Stock Horse Show & Rodeo is the last remaining Stock Horse Show and Rodeo in California. They celebrate 92 years of time honored traditions, community involvement, and community pride.
There are so many events happening in conjunction with the PRCA Rodeo in Santa Barbara. For all event information/dates/times, please visit their website and Facebook.
Santa Barbara Old Spanish Days Stock Horse Show & Rodeo - August 5-7, 2016
Congratulations to the "2016 Honorary Vaquero - Mr. Paul T. Righetti
(Story courtesy of SBFiestaRodeo.org website)
Paul T. Righetti is humbled to be a selected as this year’s Honorary Vaquero and pleased to join his Uncle Ernest Righetti (1984) father in law, Clarence Minetti (1988), and Brother in law, Tyke Minetti (2011) in receiving this recognition.
Paul, was born in Santa Maria in 1948 and raised on his ancestral home ranch. His family’s ranches were part of the Rancho Todos Santos and Rancho Guadalupe land grants of the 1800’s. Paul’s early years were spent alongside his father, Paul Righetti and his grandfather, Ralph Goodchild. It was with them that he first gained his appreciation for the early California ranch ways and learned the many trades of a cattle rancher; land steward, cowboy, veterinarian, carpenter, plumber, electrician and politician.
After graduating from Righetti High School where he played baseball and football Paul attended Cal Poly. He majored in Agricultural Business Management and played Mustang football. He then came home to continue his work on the ranch and married his wife of forty six years, Susan Minetti. Paul and Susan have worked side by side while raising their children, Renee and Timmy, on the ranch and involving them in their affiliate businesses, Susie Q’s Brand Artisan Foods and the Far Western Tavern. Preserving their ranch and businesses for future generations are Paul and Susan’s focus. Renee and her husband, Mark Fowler and granddaughter, Regan, make their home on the ranch as does Timmy with his children Ryan and Alexis Righetti. Timmy currently sits on the Fiesta Rodeo board and is the PBR event chairman.
Paul’s roots in Santa Barbara County have been aligned with his vision of preserving Ag lands and the early California vaquero lifestyle. To that end, Paul has been actively involved with many local organizations such as Santa Barbara County/California Cattlemen’s Association, Colab, Santa Barbara County Range Improvement Association, Vaqueros de los Ranchos, Rancheros Visitadores, Los Adobes, and the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center. For several years Paul served as co-chairman of the Fiesta Rodeo with Bob Herdman. His years with the Fiesta committee were enriched by serving with Fiesta greats such as Bill Caldera, Gerald Donati, Laura & Bill Deputy, Si Jenkins, Jim Pollard and Eldon & Mae Tucker. He went on to co-chair the Santa Maria Elks Rodeo for many years with his father-in-law, Clarence. Paul received the Colab Member of the Year Award and the Agribusiness Person of the Year by the 37th Agricultural District.
Amongst Paul’s memorable Fiesta experiences are participating in the rodeo as a teenage bull rider, later in team roping, the hackamore class, calf branding, and winning the team penning several years. With Clarence and Tyke, Paul won the first World Champion team penning in 1978. A bit of rodeo history was made when Paul and Dave Osburn brought Mutton Bustin’ to the local rodeo scene while they were co-chairing the Santa Maria Rodeo.
Paul is grateful having the opportunity to perpetuate the California ranch lifestyle that was presented to him. He enjoys nothing more than a quality cow calf herd, a good cow horse, plenty of rain, branding season, sharing his special ranch with a loving family & many friends with a little time left over for trap shooting and travel.
Paul attends this year’s Fiesta with great gratitude and heartfelt thanks to the Fiesta Rodeo Committee. Accepting this honor and having the pleasure of watching the tradition carry on will surely make for more great memories. Viva la Fiesta!
Good Luck to all of the contestants and safe travels to all !!
See you in October for the RAM PRCA CA Circuit Finals Rodeo ( website / Facebook ) which will be held October 7th (one performance) and October 8th (two performances and awards ceremony), 2016 - in Lancaster, CA ( website/ Facebook ) - at the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds ( website / Facebook ). Thank you for your support!
If you, or your business, are interested in sponsoring the 2016 RAM PRCA California Circuit Finals Rodeo, please contact Dawn Babers ( [email protected]).
