Freedom 250 Rodeo Aims to Bring Western Tradition to Nation’s Capital

By Emily Hallas | Washington Examiner

The American rodeo is coming to Washington, D.C., this summer for the country’s 250th birthday, over four decades since the last presidential rodeo.

Freedom 250, an organization linked to President Donald Trump, is spearheading the show set to take place on the National Mall as part of the Great American State Fair, planned from June 25 to July 10. Led by the Cervi Championship Rodeo, organizers are aiming to celebrate 250 years of U.S. history, embodied by the American cowboy, as the United States marks the semiquincentennial.

Binion Cervi, who leads the Cervi rodeo, told the Washington Examiner that cowboy runs in his blood. His family was involved in the last presidential rodeo during the Reagan era, back in 1983, Binion reminisced during a phone call. At age 7, he was helping out at events. Now, 43 years later, the Texan is leading the rodeo empire his father built, including a team of roughly 50 people in preparing for a “huge celebration” presenting the history of the American cowboy in the capital city. 

“I just really think there’s value in preserving these stories, because not every American comes from the same place as an experience, but I think that if they understand the stories, if we understand one another’s roots, maybe it better helps us understand the country we share,” he said.

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