This year the Silver Spurs Rodeo is celebrating its 75th year and it did so this weekend with its 143rd rodeo! Over the weekend thousands of rodeo fans filled the Silver Spurs Arena to experience the best in bull riding, bareback bronc riding, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, barrel racing, steer wrestling, and team roping, and it all took place in Kissimmee, Florida at Osceola Heritage Park.

The Silver Spurs Rodeo is the largest rodeo east of the Mississippi and is annually ranked among the top 50 events sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA). But the Silver Spurs Rodeo would not be one of the premier events in  Osceola County without the dedication, sacrifice, and passion shown by the Silver Spurs Club. The success of the club continues to be centered around the passion, belief in heritage, and the extraordinary work ethic by its club members, their families, and volunteers. With an uncompromising love for animals, land, and western life heritage, the Silver Spurs Riding Club continues to preserve an American tradition that has been, and will continue to be passed down for generations to come.

“It’s really great to see so many people come to the rodeo and interact with everybody. Our guests are able to learn and understand what we do for the community and how the Silver Spurs Rodeo gives back to the community each year through scholarships, charities, and community involvement,” says Chris Fluke, Silver Spurs Big Boss.

Fluke took the position of Big Boss a year ago and will soon be stepping down in July, handing the reins over to Little Boss, Chris Baker.

“It’s been a fun ride, of course. I’ve really come to learn and depend on my committee chairs because they are the ones who really run this rodeo. Everything we do is dependent on them and you truly come to appreciate how much effort they put in throughout the year to put on a show. I would like to thank my wife, Ashley, for being by my side while I was Big Boss because it is a sacrifice, and I appreciate her full support.”

Chris Baker, who currently holds the seat of Little Boss is excited and ready to take over as Big Boss in July. The transition should be easy Baker says, because like the current Big Boss, Chris Fluke, the two joined the Board of Directors for the Silver Spurs Rodeo at the same time.

Incoming Big Boss Chris Baker shared, “I am honored to be taking the Big Boss position this coming July. My family has been involved in the rodeo since WWII, and I am really looking forward to taking the reins. If the Silver Spurs Club is anything, it is about tradition. As Big Boss, I plan to focus on inviting new families that have moved into our community in recent years so they can keep this tradition alive for generations to come. We are going in a great direction now and I hope to keep the momentum going.”

Positively Osceola would like to congratulate Big Boss Chris Fluke on a job well done over the past year, and wish Little Boss (soon to be Big Boss) Chris Baker, the best of luck in his exciting year ahead.