News and Notes from the Rodeo Trail, Oct. 27
Las Vegas Events has announced the launch of a new Wrangler National Finals Rodeo initiative designed to promote social media activation and engagement with rodeo fans. The new NFR Social Arena is a free service, and will provide exclusive content and features during the lead up to the Wrangler NFR. Rodeo fans can access the new site at www.NFRSocialArena.com and register to begin accruing points based on social media activation and participation in Wrangler NFR promotions and activities. This platform will then reward fans for reaching the most points during specified periods of time.
The Lynden (Wash.) PRCA Rodeo Tough Enough to Wear Pink Committee presented $35,000 to the PeaceHealth Cancer Care Center’s Dr. Jennie Crews earlier this month. The money was raised locally through fundraising events and merchandise sales; a plaque with donors’ names on it came with the check.
On Aug. 31, Ellensburg (Wash.) Rodeo participants wore pink to raise money and awareness during the ninth annual Tough Enough to Wear Pink campaign. It raised $6,200 for the Breast Cancer Fund at the Foundation at Kittitas Valley Healthcare.
Randy Corley, 11-time PRCA Announcer of the Year, underwent successful back surgery Oct. 20. On Oct. 23, Corley said he walked a couple of miles, and he’ll be ready to go to work immediately. “My next rodeo is the Brawley (Calif.) Cattle Call Rodeo, and I’ll be there with bells on,” he said.
The Canadian ProRodeo Association is partnering with iLink Media, Northlands and Worldplay Canada to offer a live streaming broadcast of the Canadian Finals Rodeo, happening Nov. 5-9, in Edmonton, Alberta. Pre-registration for the online broadcast of the 41st CFR can be found at worldplaylive.com.
The Daines family, of Innisfail, Alberta, was named the winner of the 2014 Business Contribution Award at the Community and Business Awards Gala held at the Royal Canadian Legion on Oct. 17. “Winning the business contribution award is amazing,” said Jack Daines, patriarch of the rodeo family.
Former Texas Circuit bareback rider Vidal Conde is negotiating to revive Las Vegas-style gambling cruises that would sail from the Coastal Bend in Corpus Christi, Texas, into international waters. Conde, 44, says he learned the entertainment business while riding bulls and broncs in PRCA competition in the 1990s and early 2000s. Along the way came offers to promote bull riding events and Tejano concerts. Now, more than 10 years removed from his last eight-second ride, Conde is still trying to work the crowd. His company, Texas Gold Nugget Casino Cruises, plans to offer two five-hour casino cruises every day from the Corpus Christi Marina starting in January. “When I first floated the idea, a lot of people were like ‘you’re the right person for this kind of job,’” Conde told the Corpus Christi Caller-Times. “Entertainment is my life. I love to show people a good time.”
Courtesy of PRCA