By the time the first competitor of the 84th annual Poly Royal Rodeo entered the arena on April 11, there was not an empty seat left in Cal Poly’s Alex G. Spanos Stadium. More than 12,000 spectators packed the venue for the sold-out final night of the rodeo, setting one of the highest attendance marks of the stadium in school history.  

The high-energy event marked Poly Royal’s return to Spanos Stadium after seven years, following a relocation during stadium renovations and the COVID-19 pandemic. The return to Spanos Stadium was years in the making and showcased the strength of Cal Poly’s hands-on learning approach, bringing together tradition, student leadership and athletic achievement.  

Hosted by the Cal Poly Rodeo program in the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences, the event welcomed more than 30,000 spectators over three days during the university’s annual Open House weekend and raised more than $500,000 to fund rodeo student-athlete success and program operations.

Spectators filled the stands for three consecutive nights to watch Cal Poly Rodeo compete against teams from across the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association’s West Coast Region for a coveted Poly Royal Championship buckle. But long before fans filled the stands, hundreds of hours of work in the classroom laid the foundation for the weekend's success. Students led the planning and production of the event, gaining practical experience in leadership, fundraising, teamwork and operations and event management. 

The work began in September 2025, when 13 students walked into their first day of AG 412: Advanced Leadership Practice Poly Royal Production with only a vague idea of what the next seven months would entail. Selected for the course after a competitive summer application process, students were immediately tasked with leading one of Cal Poly's largest student-run events: the Poly Royal Rodeo. For some, it was their first time planning a rodeo. For others, it was their first time attending one.  

“When I asked the class if anyone hadn’t been to a rodeo before, half of them raised their hands. Those students ended up being some of the hardest workers of the whole production,” Jack Busch, Poly Royal production manager and lecturer said.  

Busch (Agricultural Business, ’24; Agricultural Education, ’25) first got involved with Poly Royal as a student in 2021 when he enrolled in the production class. Now he’s leading the charge, overseeing production, managing class committees and working alongside Rodeo Coach Ben Londo to make the event a success.  

The student group worked through fall quarter to identify tasks and responsibilities before welcoming more than 50 students to the AG 212: Leadership Practice: Poly Royal Rodeo course in spring quarter. During the fall, the 13 student leaders established seven committees focused on production, facilities, media, VIP experience, sponsorship and apparel, creating a framework for students to prepare for and produce the Poly Royal Rodeo.

Students coordinated with more than 15 campus entities, including Facilities Management and Development, Agricultural Operations and University Police.  

“Creating the VIP experience required the collective effort of so many dedicated partners, from campus entities to sponsors, vendors, activation teams and many more,” said Anna Bibby (Agricultural Business, ’25; Business Administration, ’26), co-lead of the VIP committee. “As we ventured into new territory in Spanos Stadium, we made plans and changed plans until the very last moment, driven by a shared commitment to excellence. The collaboration and passion of this incredible team made it possible to create lasting memories for our guests.”  

Zoe Florence (Agricultural Science, ’26) a member of the facilities committee, said the experience was rewarding. “Being part of the planning for Poly Royal was such an honor and everyone involved made the work such a fun experience. Watching the stadium sell out and seeing everyone enjoying themselves was so awesome and something I’m so proud of,” Florence said.  

Converting the field at Spanos Stadium into a rodeo arena took more than 10 days and thousands of work hours, with students leading the planning and hands-on work every step of the way. “Not only did the long hours and extra effort required to build the venue inside the stadium provide much-needed financial support for the program, they also opened the door for students to truly embrace the Learn by Doing philosophy,” said Londo. “This event has completely embodied that philosophy, from the classroom planning and coordination to students pulling all-nighters operating equipment and literally piecing the arena together, panel by panel. Not only do they walk away feeling accomplished by this production, but they also leave empowered to do big things after Cal Poly, whether rodeo-related or not. Watching their growth and confidence has been one of the most rewarding parts for me.”

Poly Royal returns to Spanos Stadium next April 8-10, 2027, and promises to provide even more hands-on learning opportunities for students. 

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