What the Gem State Classic Pro Rodeo Is
The Gem State Classic Pro Rodeo is a three-night Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) rodeo held each September at the Eastern Idaho State Fair in Blackfoot. It is one of the fair's headline grandstand events and one of Idaho's best-known pro rodeos, drawing competitors from the Wilderness Circuit and beyond. In 2026 it ran Monday through Wednesday, September 7-9, with performances at 7:30 p.m. The fair itself ran September 4-12.
Recognition and Scale
The rodeo was in its 14th year in 2025. The PRCA named it a Top 5 Medium Market Rodeo for the second year in a row, and it has already won two PRCA Small Market Rodeo of the Year titles. Eastern Idaho State Fair chairman Dennis Marshall says the rodeo draws huge crowds, and past performances have sold out. Valorie Blanchard serves as rodeo superintendent. The 2025 rodeo carried $32,000 in added money. In 2026 the Navy Leap Frogs Parachute Team jumped in with an American flag to open the rodeo.
What You See
The program follows standard PRCA events:
- Roughstock: bareback riding, saddle bronc riding and bull riding.
- Timed events: tie-down roping, team roping and steer wrestling.
- Barrel racing, run by the Women's Professional Rodeo Association.
- Mutton bustin, where children ride sheep.
The fair's grandstand week around the rodeo included Flo Rida on opening night, Bull Riding Championships on September 5 and a Western Truck and Tractor Pull on September 6, then Gabriel Iglesias, Nate Smith and the Demolition Derby after the rodeo.
Timeline for a Rodeo Night
- Pre-rodeo activities and a fan fest begin before the show; in 2025 activities started at 5:30 p.m., and the fan fest opened two hours before each performance.
- Performances start at 7:30 p.m. Organizers advise arriving at least one hour early.
- Three nights run back to back, Monday through Wednesday.
Tickets
Ticket choices for the rodeo are general admission, reserved seating, VIP packages, multi-day passes, family packs, group discounts for parties of 10 or more, and military and first responder discounts. Grandstand tickets at the fair include free fair gate admission on the day of the event. The fair's ticket office number is 208-269-7023, and the main fair office is 208-785-2480. Tickets are sold through etix.com.
Where
The rodeo is held in the Bank of Commerce Grandstand at the Eastern Idaho State Fairgrounds, 97 Park Street, Blackfoot, ID 83221. Accessible parking and seating, first aid stations and restrooms are on the grounds.
Questions
Is it a professional or an amateur rodeo?
It is PRCA-sanctioned, so the contestants are professional cowboys and cowgirls.
Do I need to buy fair admission as well?
Grandstand tickets include fair gate admission on the day of the show.
When is the next one?
The Eastern Idaho State Fair's 2027 edition is set for September 3-11, and the rodeo is held each September at the fair.
Official Links
- Idaho Falls Magazine: 2026 grandstand lineup
- Wilderness Circuit: Gem State Classic Pro Rodeo
- East Idaho News: PRCA top five honors
- East Idaho News: 2026 fair attendance and 2027 dates
- Tickets listing, September 8
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- Eastern Idaho State Fair
Nine-day state fair in Blackfoot, the 124th edition in 2026 under the theme Red, White and Blue Jeans, with grandstand shows, rodeo action, fair food and 4-H livestock exhibits. Held each year; the most recent dates were September 4-12, 2026.
- Western Truck and Tractor Pulls at the Eastern Idaho State Fair
Truck and tractor pull competition staged in Blackfoot as part of the Eastern Idaho State Fair grandstand lineup. Held each year; the most recent date was September 6, 2026.
Blackfoot, ID Official event details - Nez Perce County Farm Bureau Annual Banquet
Evening banquet for Nez Perce County Farm Bureau members at a Lewiston steakhouse on November 11, 2026.
2305 Nez Perce Dr, Lewiston, ID 83501 | Organizer: Idaho Farm Bureau Federation Official event details - Idaho County Farm Bureau Annual Banquet
Prairie farm and ranch families meet at the Cottonwood Community Hall for the Idaho County Farm Bureau banquet on November 12, 2026.
Cottonwood, ID | Organizer: Idaho Farm Bureau Federation Official event details - Valley-Adams County Farm Bureau Board Meeting
Board meeting for the Valley-Adams County Farm Bureau at the McCall insurance office on November 12, 2026.
401 S 3rd St, McCall, ID 83638 | Organizer: Idaho Farm Bureau Federation Official event details
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.