Museum: More to the Story

The history of Rodeo in Sonoma Valley was inextricably connected with the agricultural life here and the tourism that brought additional income to the area.

 

20^th century Sonoma was rural, and agriculture was diverse. Dairying and beef were an integral part of the economy--the 1928 ag report for Sonoma County lists valuation of dairy cows at 2.5 million dollars and beef cows at 350,000 dollars for the county.

 

Additionally, during the early 1920s Boyes Hot Springs was a bustling resort destination in the Sonoma Valley. To entertain guests and boost local tourism, the resorts frequently hosted Wild West exhibitions and outdoor pageants. The festivities on June 25, 1922 showcased cowboy culture, horsemanship displays, and the historical acts that were deeply popular in California at the time.

 

There is a relief map from the late 1800’s of Sonoma County showing all the properties and their owners. In southern Sonoma Valley is a parcel with the name Michael J Millerick, and there the Millerick family began its decades long residency in Sonoma Valley.

 

Michael Millerick emigrated from Cork County Ireland, settling in Sonoma Valley with his wife Catherine and raising five children.

 

The Millerick Ranch, whose brand depicted a Circle M with a bar underneath, grew into a major livestock provider, including race horses that ran in competitions throughout California in the early 1900’s.

 

Eventually they converted to the lucrative rodeo business, raising

livestock for rodeos from San Diego to Klamath Falls.  In 1921 Tom Millerick provided all the stock (16 train carloads) for Reno Nevada’s first annual state Rodeo and served as Rodeo Director for the event. The Millericks also bought a bankrupt Wild West Show and toured it throughout California.

 

In 1922, the Millerick family began hosting an annual Rodeo. They built an arena and grand stands on the east side of the property with a long promenade from the road and the family home.

 

Tom and his brother Jack operated the rodeo, an annual event for more than twenty years, and in it’s heyday had as many as 10,000 people attending.  The Sonoma Chamber of Commerce and other community organizations promoted the event locally and throughout the Bay area.

 

Among the celebrities who attended were Monty Montana, Ty Stokes, and Slim Pickens, who had lived in the ranch bunk houses off and on in his youth. Many will recognize Pickens as the character jumping from a bomber while riding a bomb in the movie “Dr. Strangelove”.  The actor and humorous social commentator Will Rogers visited the ranch several times over the years. General Vallejo’s daughter Luisa was a supporter too.

 

Locals entered these contests as well. Prominent large animal veterinarian and local legend Dr. Dario Marioni vied in these competitions, becoming a life long friend of Tom Millerick’s son James.  Wine maker August Sebastiani even competed in the events, as did Sonoma physician Dr. Carroll Andrews.

 

In 1946 Jack passed away. His nephew Jim was home from serving in the Air Force in WWII. Jim took over the reins and operated the rodeo and ranch until 1952 when he closed the rodeo down and reentered the Air Force.

 

The Millerick/Larson family is now growing grapes on the ranch and making wine.  Sadly, a few years ago the barn/tasting room at the Larson Winery that sits on the site of the rodeo grounds burnt down, taking with it with the extensive collection of the Millerick family’s rodeo memorabilia.

 

However, the rodeo spirit did not end with the closing of the Millerick Rodeo.

 

The 1970’s brought a few rodeos, but the agricultural focus was changing to vineyards. The horse and cattle culture was on the wane.

 

Gone are the hay and grain fields of the Carneros that fed the dairies of the Sonoma Valley, and the smaller but active cattle industry here and beyond. Gone too are the days when many of the children of Sonoma had horses that were ridden unrestricted in the hills and streets of Sonoma, trail-riding or going to town for an ice cream treat.

 

People who had enjoyed the pastimes of the rodeo era still rode horses and competed. Barrel racing was a popular pastime for women at local ranches. Don Canevari and some other locals had a roping club into the late 1970’s, with Wednesday evening competitions at the Flying Arrow Ranch.

 

In 1980, the Sonoma Valley Rodeo Association was founded by Jim and Bev McCombs, owners of the Triple tree saddle shop on West Napa Street. Millerick’s nephew Sam Sebastiani was a member of the association, and helped to bring the rodeo back to life.

 

The Rodeo Association supported finding a permanent place for the event, and they felt Maxwell farm would be an ideal place. Several rodeos had already been held there during the height of the resort era. During it’s existence, the Rodeo Association supported youth and agriculture programs, including the Future Farmers of America and 4H. Despite local support of the event, the county had other plans for the Maxwell Farm site, and in 1984 began planning the development of the site for uses that would serve a broader demographic.

 

 

Rodeos in the 1980s included:

 

• Sonoma County Stampede at Sears Point Raceway- April 24 and 25 1982
• Second Annual Wine Country Weekend and Rodeo June 19 and 20. 1982 at the corner of Watmaugh and Arnold Dr. where Watmaugh Strawberry is now, sponsored by Sebastiani Vineyards and the Sonoma Valley Rodeo Association.
• Sept 10 and 11 1983, Wine Country Rodeo at Maxwell Park.
• June 1 and 2 1984, Wine Country Rodeo at Maxwell Park.

 

Petaluma made rodeo history when it held the first ever all-women rodeo in Dec. 15, 1982, and there are still rodeos held at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds.

 

If you’re interested in knowing more, the archives of the Sonoma Valley Historical Society contain many photos from the heyday of the agricultural economy that supported Sonoma and the rodeos.

 

Michael Millerick’s article, which provided the overview of his family’s role in the Millerick Rodeo that ran from 1922 until1952, is available online.