In 1938, the Kinetic Club of Swift Current, a group of 70 young men, took on the task of organizing the city’s Dominion Day celebration. The club, which had been formed in 1935, had already helped with the 1937 celebration and was trusted by the city’s leaders to make the event bigger and better. They decided to introduce a rodeo that would appeal to the surrounding rural communities, and in a stroke of genius, they launched a beard-growing competition as part of the festivities, which attracted national attention. The club also created a western theme for the event, encouraging participants to wear costumes and creating parades, all of which helped the rodeo become a major success, drawing over 20,000 visitors in its first year.

The 1938 rodeo featured a variety of events such as bronc riding, calf roping, and wild cow milking, and the Kinetics went all-out to promote it. A historic western parade, street dances, and community sing-alongs helped build excitement and bring the town together. Local ranchers supplied stock for the event, and one horse in particular, “Cream Puff,” became a legend. She was known as one of the toughest bucking broncs around, and in the first rodeo, she bucked off the leading rider, Freddie Galarneau, in a dramatic display. Her reputation grew, and she became the subject of a popular song written by the Kinetics. Unfortunately, her career ended in 1941 when she was killed in a tragic accident at the rodeo, but she was buried in the arena with full honors, and her memory lived on as a symbol of the event’s early days.

Over the years, the rodeo grew in popularity, and Swift Current’s Frontier Days became a major event in the rodeo circuit. By 1954, it was formally incorporated as the Swift Current Agricultural and Exhibition Association, and the rodeo expanded with new events like steer wrestling and bull riding. The Kinetics’ original vision was carried on by the Chamber of Commerce and local organizers, who continued to build on the event’s success. Frontier Days eventually became one of Canada’s best-known exhibitions, attracting thousands of visitors annually. The rodeo's continued growth and success can be attributed to the hard work and creativity of the Kinetics, the commitment of local volunteers, and the community’s strong support.

As the rodeo expanded, so did the support from local ranchers and rodeo talent. The Swift Current rodeo became known for attracting top competitors from across Canada and the United States. The Kinetics’ innovative ideas, such as the beard-growing competition and the community’s enthusiasm, helped set Swift Current’s rodeo apart. In the years following, the rodeo saw a significant rise in its purse and the addition of more events. By the 1940s, the Swift Current rodeo was firmly established as a central part of the regional fair and continued to evolve, bringing in crowds and making a lasting impact on the community.