06/22/2026
51 YEARS IN THE STANDS
Beaverton man is dedicated St. Paul Rodeo fan
St. Paul, Ore. (June 22, 2026) – For the past 51 years, Steve Forman has had the same habit and been to the same place.
The Beaverton, Oregon man has been at the St. Paul Rodeo nearly every year since 1975.
He sits in the same spot, parks in the same spot, and eats the same thing: a hot dog, with a cold beer.
He didn’t get the box seats till 1977, but his family has purchased them every year since then.
The tradition started when his three daughters were young. He didn’t purchase as many tickets then, but as the girls grew, more joined: friends tagging along, the occasional boyfriend, “adopted” daughters, and now husbands and grandkids.
Now he’s up to 25 tickets for the group, with three daughters, two sons-in-law, four grandkids, the “adopted” daughters, and a circle of friends.
They arrive in St. Paul early, by 4 pm, in order to take in all the festivities.
They walk past the mechanical bull, the carnival and vendors, enjoying the same fair food.
“My oldest daughter is looking for a turkey leg,” Forman said. “And we always do elephant ears. That’s very important.”
While the family explores a bit before taking their seats, Forman gets a hot dog and a beer and sits down to people watch.
“I get a kick out of being there and watching,” he said. “I look at the tack, the way the horses are moving, the riders, and the fans.
“The kids have discovered the Tack Room Saloon,” he said. He stays to watch the rodeo. “They go down during the show. I can buy a beer anyplace. I’d much rather watch the rodeo.”
They stay for the fireworks, then head home.
In the last 51 years, Forman has only missed two St. Paul Rodeos. One time, he was hospitalized, and the other time, he was delayed on a flight getting home. “I still carry a small grudge,” he laughed, about the flight delay.
He’s made friends with many of the rodeo volunteers, including the usher in Section D, where his seats are. He was friends with Donna Smith, a long-time rodeo volunteer, and he makes sure to talk to Karen McKilip, general manager of the rodeo, each year, over the phone. “Every year, we talk, whether she likes it or not,” he jokes.
He and his family have good memories at the rodeo. Forman remembers the time the rodeo had the pig races with the Model T cars. One of the participants was holding the pig, couldn’t get his car started, so he passed the pig into Forman’s box.
“The girls said, ‘daddy, can we keep it?’ and I said, NO!”
He also remembers the time when a well-known rodeo clown grabbed the wire to get out of the way of horses, and missed, falling into their box.
Again, the girls said, “‘daddy, can we keep him? and I said, NO!”
Forman is retired from a nearly fifty-year career as an investment advisor, and he counts his three daughters as his proudest accomplishments.
“I have used the rodeo as a method for bringing the family together,” he said. “It’s an excuse to get everybody together in an environment that is relaxed.”
And he loves the rodeo atmosphere.
“I’ve lived in this state my whole life,” he said. “And the rodeo takes me back to the place where I’m comfortable. They play the national anthem, they post the colors, and Justin McKee (the announcer) is not above offering a prayer.
He also appreciates that the rodeo is a community event that supports community causes “that are well worth supporting.”
And he applauds the individual effort among the cowboys and cowgirls. “They put up their entry fee, and put out the effort, and either they go home with earnings, or they don’t. I think that’s a very American value, and I like that.
“The rodeo helps me remain grounded.”
The 90th edition of the St. Paul Rodeo takes place June 30-July 4. Performances are nightly at 7:30 pm, with a 1:30 pm matinee on July 4.
Tickets range in price from $31-$120 and are on sale at StPaulRodeo.com.
For more information, visit the website or call 800.237.5920.
Below ~ Steve Forman has attended the St. Paul Rodeo every year for the past 51 years. The Beaverton, Oregon man, with his grown daughters, sons-in-law and grandchildren, makes a family trip out of it.
