News & Notes from the Rodeo Trail, April 17
Wranglernetwork.com will livestream the Red Bluff (Calif.) PRCA Rodeo at 2:30 p.m. (PT) April 22, and at 1:30 p.m. April 23.
The Bull Riding Hall of Fame recently announced its 2017 Hall of Fame class. The inductees are bull riders Denny Flynn, Bill Kornell, Dick Griffith, Chris Shivers, Randy Magers and Lane Frost, bullfighter Rob Smets, legends Clem McSpadden and Bob Tallman, and bull Bodacious. The Bull Riding Hall of Fame and induction ceremonies are May 19-21 at the Fort Worth (Texas) Stockyards. Complete schedule, tickets and hotel information may be found at www.bullridinghof.com.
The Greeley (Colo.) Stampede, Rooftop Rodeo Estes Park (Colo. and Larimer County Fair and PRCA Rodeo in Loveland, Colo., have combined to award the contestant who earns the most combined money at the three rodeos in 2017. That award will be called the Rodeo 34 Award, and the inaugural winner also will receive a $3,000 gas and grocery gift card, along with a pure beaver custom cowboy hat. The winner also will be featured during the 2017 PRCA Mountain States Circuit Finals Oct. 27-28 at The Ranch in Loveland. “This new partnership will be a great way to recognize and award the contestant that competes at all three rodeos,” Estes Park Western Heritage Inc. Chairman Mark Purdy said in a news release. “We felt it was important to provide items to help keep the contestant on the road like fuel and food. Hopefully, we can continue add to the prizes.” The award is named after U.S. 34 – the highway that connects the three rodeos. The Greeley Stampede is the first out of the three events (June 23 to July 4), followed by the Estes Park Rooftop Rodeo (July 5-10), and then the Larimer County Fair and PRCA Rodeo (Aug. 7-9).
The Alamosa (Colo.) city council has again decided to sponsor the Alamosa Round-Up rodeo in 2017, which takes place June 20-25. A 2016 economic impact study estimated the Round-Up provided $1.6 million worth of economic impact to the area, and its associated Christmas light parade another $120,000, Round-Up committee member Dawn Honeycutt told the city council during a recent meeting. Honeycutt said because the Round-Up made some money last year, she was asking less from the city to help sponsor the event. She said she was only asking for a $4,000 sponsorship this year, which the council unanimously approved. Councilman Ty Coleman thanked the Round-Up committee, and particularly the Honeycutt family, for putting the rodeo and Christmas parade together. Councilman Michael Stefano added, “It’s really a great event… It’s about as American as apple pie and hot dogs.” Honeycutt said last year’s Round-Up rodeo was a great event with a total of 448 contestants – cowgirls and cowboys from all over the country.
The Redding (Calif.) Rodeo and Q97 are gearing up for round one of the Redding Rodeo Karaoke Contest on April 20 at Bleacher’s Sports Bar and Grill on Hilltop Drive for the 18-and-over venue. Signups and warm ups are between 7-8:30 p.m. (PT), and the contest kicks off at 8:30 p.m. All those who qualify move on to the finals at the Redding Rodeo Steak Feed on May 13 to compete for a $500 cash grand prize, second place ($300) and third place ($200). There will be two other chances to qualify – round 2 (April 27), and Round 3 (May 4). The Redding Rodeo, a Wrangler Million Dollar Tour Silver Rodeo, takes place May 17-19.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Doug was such an important part of our organization. You don’t just hand that off to someone else and move on. His contribution is sorely missing.”
– Clark County Fair Manager Kevin Willard said in the Moapa Valley (Nev.) Progress about longtime Clark County Fair board member and rodeo director Doug Schwartz. Schwartz passed away June 23, 2016, when he was struck by a car crossing the street in Elko, Nev. A special tribute was held for Schwartz on April 15 at the Clark County Fair & Rodeo.
Courtesy of PRCA