Back story:
Rodeos had been produced in Coffeyville since the early 1940’s by one of the riding clubs but not in conjunction with the Fair.
In 1947, local rodeo producer Clyde Hulet approached the fair board about producing a rodeo in conjunction with the Fair as a substitute for the horse races that were declining in popularity. Mr. Hulet then produced the rodeo at the direction of the Fair Board but the rodeo itself just broke even financially and the fair as a whole was losing money.
In 1948, $50 & $100 notes were sold with a one year maturity at 4% interest to pay for the Fair. With this money, the year ended with a cash balance of $94.54.
In 1949 the contract with Mr. Hulet was renegotiated with the Fair Association receiving a defined portion of the gate. Mr. Hulet produced the rodeo through 1952.
Floyd Rinkenbaugh
In 1953, a Rodeo Committee was established within the Fair Board, led by local automobile dealer Pat Plattner, to produce a “home promoted” rodeo. Bill O’Conner was retained to hire clowns, contract acts and be the announcer. Floyd Rinkenbaugh, the owner of a fine American Saddlebred Palomino and a friend of Mr. Plattner’s was asked to organize and produce a Rodeo Parade. Floyd’s name was penciled in as a new member of the Fair Board.
Before the institution of the Fairground Bean Feed, a breakfast was held on the downtown plaza on the morning of the first rodeo performance: Thursday. KGGF Radio’s Joe Cook was Master of Ceremonies and news broadcaster Harold Springer rode Floyd’s Palomino from the KGGF radio station to the plaza where he read the morning news horseback!
In 1958, Floyd was elected President of the Association for the 50th anniversary of the Inter-State Fair and Rodeo. That year, 25 cent gold coins were issued as legal tender throughout Coffeyville. Dennis Weaver, TV Gunsmoke’s Chester Goode, was the rodeo intermission entertainment and the rodeo sold out every night. Governor George Docking and his wife Virginia led the Rodeo Parade, joined the Fairground festivities and attended the Rodeo. Pinkerton was hired to take tickets to eliminate Fair Board members from being pressured into letting their friends in for free.
Floyd remained very active on the Fair & Rodeo until his death in 1985. During his tenure, he was chairman of several committees:
- Parade
- Rodeo
- Parking and Traffic
- Security
- Ticket Sales
- Junior Fat Livestock Premium Sale
The young Rinkenbaugh boys began helping at worknights as soon as they were able. In the late 1960’s they helped build the second set of wooden Bucking Chutes and Chute Heaven, all new bull pens, the octogen Show Barn and whatever they were asked to help with.
John Rinkenbaugh
In 1971, John was elected as the youngest member of the Fair Board to that date at 18. He also served on several committees leading up to John being elected President in 1981, again, the youngest president up to that time. As president, John hosted Governor John Carlin and his wife at the Rodeo Parade, the Fairground Feed and by touring the fairgrounds and attending the Wednesday night rodeo performance. A new music show stage was built on wheels that year. The music entertainment was probably the highlight with Reba McIntire, daughter and granddaughter of world champion steer ropers, to be the warm-up act for Tommy Overstreet.
Following John’s stint as President, he assumed the role of Rodeo Chairman for the next 6 years until he and his family moved with his career to suburban Detroit. John flew home every year to help his brother Joe by creating the Rodeo Program “Day Sheets”, by hand (before laptops and file sharing), and help Joe produce the actual rodeo by managing the new, north end timed events and Grand Entry.
Joe Rinkenbaugh
When John resigned as Rodeo Chairman due to his career, Joe Rinkenbaugh was called on to serve as Rodeo Chairman and did so for the next 11 years. In addition to producing the Rodeo, Joe and Dan O’Conner, son of longtime rodeo producer and announcer Bill O’Conner, teamed up to lead the country music show talent acquisition. Joe and Dan became very engaged in attending rodeos around the country and resumed attending the annual PRCA & Fair Conventions to glean ideas to grow the Inter-State Rodeo. Joe led the building of new timed event chutes at the north end, added the Single Steer Roping event, secured significant national sponsorship such as Cope-Skoal (later U.S. Smokeless Tobacco) and their impressive scoreboard, Coca-Cola, Budweiser and their Winners Circle added prize money, the Dr. Pepper Challenge for youth participants in Break-Away Roping and Barrel Racing. Joe introduced and led the implementation of the Fun Pass. Joe hired a live rodeo band to replace the long-used organist and hired Justin McKee to supplement Clem McSpadden as rodeo announcer. This two-announcer setup really increased the tempo of the rodeo.
In 1999, when work interrupted Joe’s ability to devote the time required, the two brother’s switched jobs by John returning as Rodeo Chairman and Joe assuming the north end performance responsibilities. During John’s second stint as Rodeo Chairman, significant sponsorship was secured, first with Coors, Pepsi and increased the participation of local businesses to be able to increase the purse and draw more and better contestants. When Coffeyville Resources approached him to significantly increase their financial contribution to double the added rodeo prize money, the VIP Booth was built and John devised a financial plan to build all new bucking chutes and Chute Heaven. This arrangement continued for another 10 years until John’s career again took him out of town and Joe resumed Rodeo Chairman in 2009. Joe’s significant accomplishments during his second stint was to replace the aging wood and steel bucking chutes with new professional bucking chutes, build the 2x larger Chute Heaven and build the new Announcers Stand, and timer and sound room.
When Joe Humble took over as Rodeo Chairman, he asked John where he would be during the rodeo performance. John responded that he would run the South Arena Gate because in all the years he was Chairman, he could never get anyone to run that gate and stay at that gate for the entire performance. He’s been doing that now for 15 years.