White Bird Days Rodeo
By Dana Greig
WHITE BIRD — For nearly three decades, Rick Miller has helped keep one of Idaho County’s most enduring traditions alive, dedicating countless hours to the White Bird Rodeo — an event he says is about community, engraining a love for rodeo in youth and competition.
Miller, who has served as rodeo president since the late 1990s, is one of a small but committed group of volunteers who have sustained and grown the event into a staple of the White Bird Days celebration. Alongside his wife and fellow committee member, Mickie, Miller has witnessed the rodeo evolve from a modest, temporary setup into a permanent fixture along the Salmon River.
“It’s always been a family event,” said Miller of the community staple.
In its early years, the rodeo moved between locations, including a sawmill site and a mobile arena at Hammer Creek. Each year, volunteers would set up the arena for the Friday and Saturday shows, then tear it all down by Sunday — a necessity due to its location within the federally protected Wild and Scenic Salmon River corridor.
“There weren’t many of us volunteering at the time,” Miller said. “And we wanted to get away from renting the arena.”
At that point, the rodeo committee owned only basic infrastructure — bucking chutes and about 40 panels — but the vision for something more permanent had been circulating for years. And yet, a dream move to a new location in mind felt like a boulder of an obstacle.
“There was concern about it being too far from town,” he said. “But time has shown a small stretch of highway doesn’t stop people.”
The move to the rodeo’s current location allowed for a larger arena, improved parking and room for growth — but it didn’t come easy. Miller spent more than two years working with the Bureau of Land Management to secure approval for the site, navigating a lengthy process.
“I drove the people at the BLM crazy,” he said with a laugh. “I’d stop by their office every day on my way home from Lewiston, where I was working at the time.”
An archaeological dig covering 20 acres — with test sections dug 10 meters square and four feet deep — ultimately found no artifacts, clearing the way for development. With approvals in place, the real work began.
Starting in February of that year, volunteers faced a massive undertaking. The site required extensive leveling, including the removal of massive boulders and the hauling of hundreds of loads of dirt and sand.
“There were rocks the size of Volkswagens,” Miller recalled. “It was pretty involved. We worked through weekends right up to rodeo time.”
Today, the rodeo operates on leased BLM land and must adhere to specific maintenance and use requirements, but the payoff has been a facility that serves the community year-round. Outside of rodeo weekend, the arena is frequently used by locals for horse training, barrel racing and roping practice, often benefiting from milder winter conditions than surrounding areas.
Despite its growth, the rodeo remains volunteer-driven. Miller estimates that a core group of about six people has handled most of the organizational workload over the years, including Neal and her husband Garrett, who has been involved for more than 20 years, as well as Monty and Toni Baker, who have each contributed around three decades of service. More recently Andrew Morgan joined the effort, motivated in part by his daughter’s use of the facility, and increased the group number to seven.
“We kind of laughed about it 10 years ago, how we were all getting old,” he said. “Now we’re finally to the age where some of us can’t do what we used to do.”
If he could change one thing, Miller said, it would be expanding the committee to 10 to 15 people to better distribute the workload.
Even so, he isn’t ready to step away entirely.
“I’d still want to come help,” he said. “It would just be nice to take some of the workload off.”
Part of what has kept the rodeo thriving is its emphasis on youth participation. White Bird Rodeo has carved out a niche by offering opportunities for younger competitors, including mini bulls, mini broncs and calf scrambles.
“You have to start somewhere, you have to get experience,” Miller said of the importance of creating opportunities for youth to get involved in the sport of rodeo.
The focus on family and accessibility has helped create an environment where multiple generations participate — from young riders testing their skills for the first time to parents and grandparents cheering from the stands. Miller’s own family reflects that tradition, with his daughters and granddaughters having served as rodeo queens over the years.
Beyond its cultural significance, the rodeo also plays an important economic role in the region.
“It brings in a lot of money for the community,” Miller said. “People renting rooms, buying fuel and food — it all flows together.”
With White Bird Rodeo upon us this month: June 19-20, Miller said its continued success will depend on maintaining that balance of tradition, community involvement and adaptability.
“If you’re just doing it to do it, you’ll get burnt out,” he said. “Tying it to what you’re passionate about makes coming back year after year worth it.”
Those interested in making sure the White Bird Rodeo continues for decades to come by becoming a volunteer can contact Miller at 208-507-0722.