If you are a fan of rodeos, horses or the town of Fortuna, we have a book for you.  In and  Around the Arena: the 100 Year History of the Fortuna Rodeo by Susan O'Hara and Alex Service.

       This is a big book, a collector’s edition of 722 pages sprinkled with photographs, many of which are from private collections.  It begins with the many factors contributing to the foundation of this now century old tradition. The late 19th century cattle drives brought ranching into Humboldt and the various individuals and families who became the area's major cattle barons.  Then we are shown how the romance of the "Old  West" seen through novels and early movies inspired the nation-wide popularity of rodeos.  Further chapters deal with how a cattleman's picnic morphed into the first Fortuna rodeo and how it was effected by social and economic factors in the Roaring Twenties and the Depression.  We learn how the facilities developed and events were added, including a parade, and how the whole town enthusiastically decorated and bought into the event.

       Continuing to follow a year by year format, we see how, to counteract the stress of the war years and then of the Cold War, the popularity of the rodeo increased perhaps as an escape to earlier "simpler times". Through the decades are woven detailed research from newspapers, records and personal reminiscences and an historically grounding glimpse of yearly popular entertainment, world-wide events and social trends.

       Then on we go into the 1980s, 90s and then the 21st century, seeing the impact of issues of the times such as the equality of women, the role of the police and new technology.  We see too how, when in some years the event was cancelled for world factors such as war, depression and covid, the spirit of community has sustained this event for over a century. 

       A couple of newspaper articles quoted in the book well summarized things.  From a 1972 editorial: "One of the secrets of the Fortuna event is how little it changes  . . . people like the Fortuna Rodeo because they know what to expect and it will be worth seeing".  From 1987, "This is family entertainment on a grand sale in a small town put on by people and organizations that care"