Cowtown Rodeo: A Century of Americana in New Jersey

A Legacy of Rodeo in New Jersey

• 🤠 Cow Town Rodeo, located in Pilesgrove, New Jersey, is highlighted as one of the nation's longest-running rodeos, maintaining its popularity for nearly a century.
• 🚜 The rodeo is deeply rooted in a family legacy of agriculture, with the Harris family involved in Salem County for 13 generations, tracing back to a great-grandfather who drove cattle to Valley Forge in 1778.

The Heart of Cowtown

• 🌟 Grant Harris, a fourth-generation cowboy, describes Cowtown Rodeo as a symbol of Americana, attracting thousands of fans weekly with events like bull riding and steer wrestling.
• 🗓️ The rodeo has operated continuously every Saturday from Memorial Day to the end of September since restarting in 1955 after a pause during World War II.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The family tradition continues with Grant and Betsy Harris passing the torch to their daughter Katie and son-in-law R.J. Griskcom in 2020, representing the fifth generation.

Preserving a Family Tradition

• 💰 Despite significant offers for their 18,800-acre property, the family chose to preserve the rodeo and their agricultural way of life over lucrative development deals.
• 👧 Katie Harris, the first woman in charge, started contributing at a very young age, driving tractors by eight and riding at two, emphasizing the deep-rooted family involvement.
• 🐂 The younger generation, including Katie and R.J.'s son Nate, are already immersed in the rodeo lifestyle, riding bulls and working on the ranch.

The Future of Cowtown

• 📈 The rodeo continues to thrive with increasing crowds and dynamic management from the younger generation, ensuring a bright future.
• 🇺🇸 Visitors hope to leave with a piece of Americana and the cowboy culture that has been passed down through generations in this unexpected New Jersey location.