Ellen Carney

Plenty Western Ellen Carney

The Henry Stampede and Stockman's Reunion was held yearly from 1917 to 1956 in Idaho except for one year during World War II. The first Stampede was held at Chub Springs, moved a year later to Henry and finally in 1928 to Soda Springs. It was THE event of the year. At Henry thousands of people gathered yearly by the little settlement, 17 miles north of Soda Springs on present Highway 34. It became a family event. The assemblage spread out along the huge, open range and camped on the flats. The families participated in the 3-day rodeo, dancing all night on a stretched piece of canvas, visiting with friends and neighbors and hunting and fishing there. Local cowboys got their start at the Henry Stampede. It incorporated on October 17, 1922. Old Soda Springs newspapers mention crowds of up to ten thousand at the Henry Stampede in Soda Springs. Famous cowboys came from all over the United States and Canada to compete for the winning money. Many records were broken in all phases of rodeoing and racing. The Henry Stampede was said to rival the Pendleton and Cheyenne rodeos for a time and produced a number of world champion cowboys who are now remembered in Cowboy Halls of Fame. By 1933, rodeos were attracting smaller audiences and smaller rodeos were replacing most large rodeos of the previous years. When interest in professional rodeos decreased, the Henry Stampede fell by the wayside, but will always be fondly remembered by locals and by rodeo fans.