Family-Owned Western Store That Opened Alongside the Folsom Pro Rodeo Continues Decades-Long Tradition of Honoring the Volunteers Behind the City’s Biggest Summer Celebration
Before the first bull bursts from the chute, before the first barrel racer rounds the arena and before fireworks illuminate the skies above Dan Russell Arena, another Folsom Pro Rodeo tradition quietly signals that rodeo week has officially arrived.
For decades, that tradition has been found inside and outside of Handley’s Work & Western Wear in Folsom.
Wednesday evening, the longtime family-owned western retailer once again welcomed Folsom Pro Rodeo volunteers, their families and community supporters for its annual Volunteer Appreciation Celebration, continuing a partnership with the rodeo that dates back to the very beginning.
Held at the store’s longtime location on East Bidwell Street, the extended-hours event served as both a celebration and a practical stop for the volunteers who will soon be working behind the scenes during the 65th annual Folsom Pro Rodeo. Throughout the evening, volunteers picked up their official event shirts, reconnected with fellow committee members and enjoyed an evening dedicated to recognizing the countless hours they contribute to making one of California’s premier rodeos possible.
While thousands of fans won’t begin filling Dan Russell Arena until next week, Wednesday’s gathering at Handley’s served as an early reminder that the Folsom Pro Rodeo has always been about far more than three nights of competition. It is a community tradition built on generations of volunteers, family businesses and local organizations working together to produce one of Folsom’s most cherished annual events.
Guests were treated to complimentary food and beverages throughout the evening while enjoying live music from the Grounded Duo, whose performance provided the soundtrack for a festive gathering that blended longtime rodeo traditions with the excitement of another Independence Day celebration just around the corner.
The event also gave rodeo fans an opportunity to get outfitted before opening night. Handley’s offered 25 percent off merchandise throughout the appreciation event, welcoming both volunteers and shoppers looking to stock up on boots, hats, belts, patriotic apparel and western wear before rodeo week officially gets underway. Attendees got the opportunity to mix and mingle with members of the Painted Ladies Drill Team, chat with Rodeo Grand Marshal Harry Elliott and others while enjoying a bbq dinner and beverages courtesy of Choose Folsom in partnership with Handley’s.
As always, Handley’s has remained the exclusive local retailer for official Folsom Pro Rodeo merchandise, with many volunteers and fans taking advantage of the opportunity to purchase this year’s commemorative apparel before the crowds arrive next week.
For Handley’s, hosting the annual volunteer appreciation event is more than simply opening its doors for an evening. It is a continuation of a relationship that has existed for more than six decades.
The store opened the same year the Folsom Pro Rodeo first came to town, and through the decades the two institutions have grown together, each becoming an enduring part of the community’s identity.
Founded by Chet and Donella Handley, the business was built with the vision of creating a hometown mercantile for working men and women. Chet, a World War II veteran, and Donella, a longtime local bookkeeper, established what would become one of the region’s best-known western outfitters while building relationships that continue to define the business today.
More than six decades later, Handley’s remains proudly family owned and operated.
Today, granddaughters Julie Spitler and Grace Rittenhouse continue the tradition established by their grandparents, carrying forward the same commitment to customer service, community involvement and western heritage that has made Handley’s a familiar destination for generations of Folsom families.
Although the business began primarily as a workwear retailer, Handley’s gradually evolved into one of Northern California’s premier destinations for western apparel and accessories. From Wrangler jeans and cowboy boots to handcrafted belts, buckles and hats, the store has outfitted generations of rodeo contestants, volunteers, spectators and parade participants.
As rodeo season approaches each summer, Handley’s becomes one of the busiest places in town, with families stopping in to purchase everything from children’s first cowboy hats to patriotic attire for Fourth of July festivities.
“We have always been a sponsor and continue our grandparents’ tradition of supporting the rodeo,” Spitler previously told Folsom Times. “Rodeo is our favorite time of the year. We love getting the community rodeo-ready with boots, hats, belts, buckles and Wranglers. It’s so much fun watching the whole community come together and celebrate America for the Fourth of July. We’ve been doing this for 65 years now, and it’s still our favorite time of the year.”
Walking through Handley’s today feels much like stepping back into another era. Rows of boots and western apparel still line the store much as they have for generations, while western memorabilia fills the walls with reminders of the business’s long history alongside the Folsom Pro Rodeo.
Even today, customers continue to receive handwritten sales receipts at the checkout counter, one of many traditions the family has intentionally preserved through the years.
“We’ve stayed in business for 65 years because of this great community and support,” Spitler previously told Folsom Times. “The Folsom Pro Rodeo is one of the fun events that brings so many amazing people and families into our store every year. It’s one of the highlights of the year for us.”
Wednesday’s appreciation celebration once again demonstrated that the Folsom Pro Rodeo is powered by far more than the contestants who enter the arena. Behind every performance are hundreds of volunteers who spend months preparing for the event, businesses that continue to invest in the community and families who have supported the tradition for generations.
For Handley’s, that commitment remains as strong today as it was when the store first opened its doors alongside one of Folsom’s newest traditions more than six decades ago.
The 2026 Folsom Pro Rodeo returns to Dan Russell Arena July 2, 3 and 4 as the community celebrates the rodeo’s milestone 65th anniversary, the City of Folsom’s 80th anniversary and America’s 250th anniversary. Gates open nightly at 5 p.m., preshow entertainment begins at 6 p.m., and Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association action starts at 7:30 p.m.
Fans can look forward to three nights of world-class rodeo competition featuring bull riding, barrel racing, team roping, breakaway roping and other PRCA events. Returning crowd favorites include the Flying Cowboys, Bull Jumping, the nationally acclaimed Painted Ladies Rodeo Performers, mutton bustin’ for young cowboys and cowgirls and the debut of new comedy barrelman Kyle Lamon, whose high-energy act promises plenty of laughs throughout each performance.
Each evening concludes with the Folsom Pro Rodeo’s signature fireworks spectacular, while guests can also enjoy food vendors, merchandise booths and the popular Saloon Under the Stars throughout rodeo week.
Ticket options include $30 general admission, $45 reserved seating, $65 premier reserved seating and the premium Corral Club experience for $85. Family Packs featuring four general admission tickets are available for $110, and children ages 2 and younger are admitted free when seated on a parent or guardian’s lap.
With volunteers now prepared, western gear flying off the shelves and one of Folsom’s oldest family businesses once again helping kick off rodeo week, the countdown is officially on for another year of bucking broncs, patriotic celebration and one of Northern California’s most beloved Independence Day traditions.
Copyright © 2026, Folsom Times, a digital product of All Town Media LLC. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
