The Big 4 Rodeos Association, which was established in
1948, celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2023 paying out over $1,600,000. It remains one of the oldest associations of its type in professional rodeo today and is comprised of
four rodeos (in order of occurrence), the Horse Heaven Round Up Rodeo,
Walla Walla Fair & Frontier Days, the Lewiston Roundup and the
Pendleton Round-Up.
2023 Winner Keenan Hayes
Resistol Rookie, Keenan Hayes, won the coveted Big 4 Rodeo Association's "Best in the Northwest" title as a result of competing at the Kennewick Horse Heaven Round-Up, Walla Walla Frontier Days, Lewiston Roundup and the Pendleton Round-Up.
The "Best of the Northwest" award is given to the contestant accumulating the most points while competing at all of the Big 4 Rodeo Association events. Hayes, 20, of Hayden, CO won the tightly contested 2023 title by gathering 14 points while competing in bareback riding at the four rodeos. The award is a custom-made saddle designed especially for the winner by Blake West -- Wild West Saddlery of Hermiston, OR. Hayes' combined winnings were $16,529 at the Big 4 Rodeos, helping him as he has set a new PRCA single-season earnings record in bareback riding (before the WNFR) held since 2009, and putting him on his way to his first Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. The award saddle was awarded to Hayes at the Big 4 Rodeo Association Reception presented by Pendleton Whisky on December 6, 2023 at the South Point Hotel Casino & Spa during the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.