The Greeley Stampede is a summer staple in Greeley and Weld County.
From the musical acts to the calorie-filled food, thousands of people from near and far make the trip to the Stampede from late June until a couple of days after the Fourth of July.
People look at the past Greeley Stampede Hall of Fame members during a ceremony to announce this year’s new inductees on Friday night in Greeley. (Jim Rydbom/Staff Photographer)If you ask Jerry Pickett, he’ll tell you without any qualms that the Stampede is the best carnival, best concert and event in the Centennial State.
“The Stampede is the greatest thing that happens in Greeley. Bottom line. Even in Colorado,” Pickett said. “I’ve always been a part of it and will continue to do that until I can’t do it anymore.
Since 1922, when it was known as the Greeley Spud Rodeo, the Stampede has become synonymous with summer fun thanks to people like Pickett, Bill Hall and the Norcross Family.
On Friday evening at the Belair at Zoe’s Cafe in downtown Greeley, those three names were enshrined in the 2025 Greeley Stampede Hall of Fame.
“It’s quite an honor,” Hall said. “I was thrilled. I had no idea.”
Hall has been involved with the Stampede since 1974. That year, Hall simply started unloading music equipment for concerts at the Stampede. In 1977, the Wrangler Organization was created and he became an original member.
He also served as general chairman of the Stampede committee and helped start the Stampede Celebrity Golf Tournament.
Hall said he’s helped out in just about all aspects of the Stampede, and it’s always a fun time for him every year. As he enters his 51st year of supporting the Stampede, he said it’s always come down to him being physically able to do it.
Miss Rodeo Colorado Sierra Southland speaks during the Greeley Stampede Hall of Fame ceremony inside the Belair room of Zoe’s Cafe in Greeley on Friday. (Jim Rydbom/Staff Photographer)Today, he oversees the bartending staff and serves as the vice president of the Stampede Old Buckers, which consists of former Stampede committee members who continue to assist the current committee.
Pickett joined the Wrangler organization in 1991 then served on the Stampede committee from 1994-98. He helped grow the Stampede Independence Day Parade and was key to getting the 75th anniversary parade on TV. Outside of the Stampede, he has worked 44 years for the city of Greeley as the streets superintendent.
“It’s something I never, ever, imagined,” Pickett said about being a Hall of Fame inductee. “It’s a hell of an honor to do that. It’s cool.”
The Norcross family is credited with organizing the first Greeley Spud Rodeo and Horse Show that became the Stampede. In 1921, J.W. (Warrack) Norcross, solicited sponsorship for the event from the Greeley Chamber of Commerce as well as funding from local merchants.
Hundreds of people gather inside the Belair room to induct Bill Hall, Jerry Pickett and the Norcross family during the Hall of Fame ceremony for the Greeley Stampede on Friday. (Jim Rydbom/Staff Photographer)James Herman, a Stampede Hall of Fame committee member, said Hall “rides for the brand.” He’s someone who has represented the Stampede at the highest level over the years.
Hall has been a go-to guy if anyone ever needs anything at the Stampede, Herman said, adding that Pickett has the same reliability. When you ask them to do something, they’re the type who get right to it and finish it with quality, Herman said.
“It’s an outstanding class,” he said. “All of them are well-deserving. I’m a part of that selection process, and you always get people who rise to the top. This class is definitely the cream of the crop. That’s why we’re here.”
The Stampede Hall of Fame was established in 2018 to honor and preserve its history and the people who have helped the Stampede become what it has.
This year’s Stampede is from Wednesday, June 25 to Sunday, July 6. For more information, go to greeleystampede.org.
Hall and Pickett are just as excited about this year’s event as in previous years. And just like previous years, as Hall put it, the Stampede arrives sooner than most people think.
“We had a saying, ‘Ready or not, here it comes,’ ” Hall said.
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