In 1938, ranchers Lee Bluck, Jack Granlees, and Art Burger, manager of the George R. Clements merchandising store, planned a pleasure riding club and held a meeting at the Clements schoolhouse to gauge interest. Twenty people paid $2.50 to become charter members of the Clements Buckaroos, elected Burger as president, and held their first event, a trail ride and picnic. In 1940, a date was set for a non-professional roundup at Gillies Field, later purchased in 1945, and this became the first official Clements stampede and horse show. George R. Clements, whose father founded the town of Clements, served as the first Grand Marshall. More than 1500 people attended the event, which included a greased pig contest for children. At a cost of $14000 and through major effort by the members, the clubhouse was completed just in time for the 1954 stampede, with 1650 square feet in the main hall and a complete adjoining kitchen. The Clements Buckaroos was organized as a family horse club for people who liked spending time in the saddle for work or pleasure, and it continues to be enjoyed that way today.