Category: photo

Courtesy of Black Hills Round-Up, Belle Fourche, S. D.

Page from 1933 South Dakota District History Civilian Conservation Corps

Members of Civilian Conservation Corps in the Black Hills received their first thrills of a real Roundup, in 1933, when by special arrangement, the Black Hills Roundup, Belle Fourche, was thrown open to them. Through arrangement with the management, the members were given a special admission rate, and more than two hundred attended. Major T. F. Limbocher, then in command of the Black Hills Sub-District, Deadwood, and his party occupied a box and viewed the spectacle with enthusiasm and delight.

The Black Hills Round-up was first held in Belle Fourche seventeen years ago, as a Red Cross wartime benefit. So successful was it that it has been continued each year, the annual invariably being July 3, 4 and 5. The Round-up presents a graphic repetition of Western Cowboy sports and entertainment, featuring championship contests in bronc riding, bulldogging, calf roping, bareback riding, wild steer riding, pony express races, cowgirl and cowboy relay races, clowning, cowboy bands, boys' wild calf riding, etc. The Roundup is not a money-making entertainment - - it is staged each year as one of the major outdoor events of South Dakota and has annually been attended by thousands of visitors. It is always considered one of the most important stops in the Black Hills summer vacation, and assures a day of entertainment and experience that can be secured in no other manner. As a special concession and courtesy to the thousands of C. C. C. enrollees in the Black Hills, and to afford them all opportunity to view the spectacle at reduced rates, July third was, as early as January 1, 1934, set aside as Civilian Conservation Corps Day, and active plans for the entertainment of the of thousands of enrollees were made. Inquiries for any information should be addressed to John Lervold, Manager, Belle Fourche, S. D.