MYRTLEFORD’S Golden Spurs Rodeo will mark its milestone 60th anniversary on Boxing Day.

Born into the rodeo game, John “Happy” Gill said he would never take back the past 76 years he has spent breeding and supplying rodeo bulls, cattle and horses.

“It’s a lifestyle, not a job and I don’t regret one bar of it,” he said.

“I like the atmosphere and the attitude of some of the young kids getting on to these great bulls that you breed.

“They get thrown off and then just say ‘geez he’s a good bull’ then they might want to buy me a beer.”

Mr Gill said each year organisers claimed the Myrtleford rodeo would be bigger and better than the last and this year that would be proven again.

“It’s the 60th year and there are not too many that have gone for that long,” he said.

The Myrtleford rodeo is the second longest running rodeo in Victoria and offers a $10,000 prize to the most successful bull rider.

“People are coming down from Townsville for this,” Mr Gill said.

“It not only entices more cowboys but it makes the contest more competitive because if they are only riding for a few hundred they are not as keen.

“When there’s that much up for grabs you see a high standard of riding.”

Mr Gill said rodeo bulls needed a specific body structure with big shoulders, a light back end and short testicles.

“My dad has been breeding rodeo bulls since back in the 60s.”

The rodeo starts at 11am at Myrtleford Showground on Boxing Day.