Holding more than 5,200 offenders, the Louisiana State Penitentiary, also known as Angola Prison, started the Angola Prison Rodeo in 1964. The event began as a very small in – house entertainment event with some inmates and staff. It has expanded to include spectators from the general public and has grown to the proportions that it has today.
There are several other prison rodeos around the country including the Texas Prison Rodeo and the Oklahoma Prison Rodeo. However, the Angola Prison Rodeo remains the largest and longest running prison rodeo.
The Angola Rodeo runs every Sunday in October and twice in April. Inmates in good standing are allowed to participate in the arts and crafts as well as the rodeo. All participation is strictly voluntary.
Approximately 1,500 offenders participate in the Sunday events to a sold out crowd of more than 10,000 spectators who sit in an arena built entirely by inmates. Also, revenue from rodeo concessions is used to fund re – entry, rehabilitation, education and training programs.
The objective of the Angola Rodeo remains to provide the prison population at Louisiana State Penitentiary with an opportunity for positive behavior changes.
  LSP project coordinator Gary Young and inmates expand on rodeo events, experiences
 
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