The Heart of Calaveras: A Rodeo Legacy Built on Love, Community, and CCPRA Pride
By Dee Yates
Frogtown CCPRA Rodeo – a beloved tradition that has become so much more than just an annual event in Angels Camp, California. As a sanctioned event of the California Cowboys Professional Rodeo Association (CCPRA), this rodeo represents the beating heart of a community while upholding the proud traditions of California’s leading rodeo organization.
The CCPRA: California’s Rodeo Legacy
The California Cowboys Professional Rodeo Association stands as the cornerstone of rodeo tradition in the Golden State. Founded in 1966, this non-profit organization has grown to become the premier rodeo sanctioning body throughout California and neighboring states. What makes the CCPRA special is its diverse membership – from cowboys and cowgirls to judges, clowns, bullfighters, photographers, secretaries, announcers, contractors, and committee members. CCPRA contestants compete for nearly half a million dollars in prize money annually, with points awarded on a dollar system leading to the championship finals held Thanksgiving weekend at the Tehama District Fairgrounds.
What truly distinguishes the CCPRA from other rodeo associations is its commitment to giving back to host communities. Through partnerships with corporate sponsors, the CCPRA not only funds substantial rodeo purses but also makes generous donations to local charities after each event. Their significant support of Western Wishes demonstrates how rodeo values extend far beyond the arena.
Frogtown CCPRA Rodeo: A CCPRA Showcase
The Frogtown CCPRA Rodeo proudly carries the CCPRA sanction, featuring all the thrilling events rodeo fans love – bareback riding, barrel racing, breakaway roping, bull riding, calf roping, saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling, and team roping. The 2025 rodeo, scheduled for Saturday, May 17th at 7:00pm(slack begins at 1:30) at the Calaveras County Fairgrounds, continues this tradition of CCPRA excellence and community spirit.
With stock provided by Rockin M Rodeo and competition overseen by CCPRA-certified judges, participants and spectators alike can expect top-quality western sports entertainment. For contestants, this event represents not just a chance at prize money, but valuable points toward CCPRA finals qualification.
A Legacy Transformed by Love
What truly sets this particular CCPRA rodeo apart isn’t just the impressive lineup of events or the skilled competitors – it’s the heartwarming story of transformation that has unfolded over the years. The rodeo queen competition, once organized by the Calaveras Saddle Club dating back to at least 1970, has evolved into something extraordinary thanks to the dedication of one family and their response to unimaginable loss.
The story of “Live Like Lilly” captures the essence of this community’s spirit. What began as a dream to support young women in their rodeo queen journeys became a powerful legacy following the loss of a remarkable young woman named Lilly. As the 2021 Calaveras Saddle Queen, Lilly embodied everything this community stands for – dedication, determination, and an infectious love for rodeo that inspired everyone around her.
During her reign, Lilly traveled more than 6,000 miles representing Calaveras County, elevating the expectations for future queens and helping transform the title from Calaveras Saddle Queen to Calaveras Rodeo Queen. Her achievements didn’t stop there – she went on to become the 2022 Amador County Fair Rodeo Queen, chapter president for FFA at Calaveras High School, and had dreams of becoming Miss Rodeo Oakdale in 2024.
Lilly’s Dream Lives On Through Others
In a beautiful testament to Lilly’s lasting impact, Lillian Crummey was crowned 2024 Miss Rodeo Oakdale – the very title Lilly had aspired to claim. Crummey ran for the title in memory of Lilly, proudly displaying the flying L emblem on her chaps as a tribute to her legacy. Her journey doesn’t stop there; Crummey plans to run for Miss Rodeo California in the fall of 2025, with the ultimate goal of winning Miss Rodeo America – fulfilling what was once Lilly’s greatest dream.
This powerful continuity of purpose shows how Lilly’s ambitions continue to inspire and live on through others in the rodeo community. Each time Crummey enters the arena with the flying L displayed proudly, Lilly’s spirit rides alongside her, touching hearts and reminding everyone of the profound impact one passionate young woman can have even after she’s gone.
The Queen Tradition: From CCPRA to Frogtown
While the CCPRA hosts its own prestigious Miss CCPRA Pageant crowning queens who represent the organization at rodeos throughout the year, local rodeos like the Frogtown CCPRA Rodeo also maintain their own queen traditions. These local royalty programs serve as stepping stones for many young women who aspire to compete at higher levels, including the CCPRA queen competition.
Following Lilly’s passing, her mother’s original dream of creating a nonprofit to support rodeo queens took on new meaning and urgency. In April 2024, “Live Like Lilly” became official – not just supporting rodeo queens as initially envisioned, but expanding to provide scholarships to organizations created in Lilly’s memory.
The impact has been profound. Since April 2024, they’ve awarded over $1,600 in scholarships and presented six Live Like Lilly Buckles. Throughout California, rodeo queens proudly carry Live Like Lilly flags in their trailers, and many competitions have renamed their Miss Congeniality Award to the “Live Like Lilly Spirit Award.”
Building for the Future
The dedication to improving the rodeo queen program exemplifies the “leave it better than you found it” philosophy that permeates both the CCPRA and local rodeo communities. Through fundraising efforts and community support, they’ve added significant prizes including custom saddles for queens and expanded the competition to include participants from outside the area. The program now features both Calaveras Rodeo Queen and Calaveras Rodeo Jr Queen titles, with plans to add a Calaveras Rodeo Princess in 2026.
Perhaps most exciting is the announcement that 2025 will mark the first year the Calaveras Rodeo Queen will receive her very own trailer – a testament to the growth and support this program has achieved.
Join Us in Angels Camp
If you’d like to experience this special CCPRA event firsthand, the 2025 Frogtown CCPRA Rodeo awaits on Saturday, May 17th. The event features a full lineup of CCPRA-sanctioned competitions, with entries closing on May 6th.
For more information, contact the Calaveras County Fair & Jumping Frog Jubilee at (209) 736-2561 or visit their website at https://www.frogtown.org/frogtown-rodeo. To learn more about the California Cowboys Professional Rodeo Association and its year-round schedule of events, visit http://www.ccpra.com/ or call (530) 347-9256.
The Spirit Lives On
Lilly’s story reminds us all that rodeo is more than competition – it’s about community, dreams, and the impact we have on each other. As her mother beautifully expressed, “Her spirit is with all of us. Remember to lead with a smile.”
In every flag flying in a queen’s trailer, in every scholarship awarded, and in every competition that honors her memory, Lilly’s legacy continues to inspire and unite this remarkable rodeo community. The Frogtown CCPRA Rodeo stands as a beautiful example of how tragedy can transform into triumph when a community comes together with love, purpose, and dedication – values that perfectly align with the CCPRA’s mission of not just preserving western heritage, but strengthening the communities where rodeo thrives.
As Lillian Crummey continues her journey toward Miss Rodeo California and potentially Miss Rodeo America, she carries not just her own dreams but Lilly’s as well – proving that some legacies are too powerful to be contained by time or circumstance.
I invite you to experience this special CCPRA event and witness firsthand how the spirit of Lilly and the passion of this community continue to make the Frogtown CCPRA Rodeo so much more than just another stop on the circuit. It’s a celebration of life, legacy, and the power of leading with a smile.
