In the summer of 1929, a meeting was held in Hollister by a group composed principally of owners or managers of the larger cattle ranches of San Benito County, but including horse lovers generally. These men met for the purpose of considering the feasibility of staging a rodeo-type show in conjunction with the annual county fair.

It was recognized by those in attendance, that over the years, native, reined cow horses had been often featured in rodeo-type exhibitions in various sections of San Benito County, notably San Juan Bautista, Hollister and Panoche, and while the ventures were not financially successful, they were exceedingly popular with the residents of the county. So, first deciding that it was both desirable and feasible and that all present were willing to work for it, the next decision was that the show should feature principally the cowboy and cow horse contests, putting them on in much the same way as the California Rodeo at Salinas, but with the important distinction that it would be run, both in management and participation, by San Benito County residents exclusively. The dates for the first show were set to coincide with the last two days of the fair, September 28 and 29, 1929.