The Wrangler Horse and Rodeo News

34 • The WRANGLER • September, 2024 The saying, "it takes a village," couldn't be Truer for the Wyoming State Fair. thAnks in greAt PArt to a large group of volunteers, board members, contractors, and a superintendent, that village has risen to the occasion a multitude of times over the last several years. This became evident when the Wyoming State Fair PRCA Rodeo was awarded 2023 Small Rodeo of the Year by the PRCA Mountain States Circuit. After the global financial challenges of the Covid 19 pandemic in 2021, the Wyoming State Fair Board took a vote to bring the rodeo production in-house. This move equipped the board to grapple with the overall costs associated with producing the rodeo. This meant that they were able to do the hiring directly for stock contractors and rodeo personnel. It also paved the way to fostering new creativity, and allowed a fresh start for something special and truly unique to happen. A new model for the production was designed that would highlight stock from around the Cowboy State. All six Wyoming based PRCA card holding stock contractors, who either have stock grazing in the state, or an owner that lives in the state, have been invited to participate. Those contractors that have accepted go onto a rotation list. The role of the Primary Stock Contractor is awarded to the name at the top of the list, and changes with each new year. It's a great way to promote and highlight some of the very best livestock in Wyoming. Bucking horses, bulls, and timed event cattle are not the only ones that hail from Wyoming. The pickup men, bull fighters, barrel man, and timers all have Wyoming roots. It really has become a very special production. The creation of the "Rodeo Boosters" club was initiated in 2021. This is a group of volunteers that help with the production of the rodeo. "It is open to anyone that wants to get involved. You can help as much as you want. You can choose what parts that you would like to do, hanging banners, host in hospitality, pull gates, trip latches. Basically anything from arena production to what happens in slack or during the perfs, there is something for everyone to volunteer," says Rodeo Superintendent, Becky Podio. "We've come a long way with community involvement." This year's rodeo was expanded to co-sanctioning with the Badlands, Prairie, and Montana Circuits. This growth was a draw for some of rodeo's biggest names. The crowd was graced with the likes of World Champions such as Hailey Kinsley, and Fallon Taylor. Total purse money of $30,000 was paid out among all the events. Board Chairmen, Shawn Steffen, reported more than seventy new entries came as a result of the co-sanctioning decision. One trademark staple of the Wyoming State Fair PRCA Rodeo is the inclusion of the Steer Roping event in its Thursday night performance. The top 10 from the morning's progressive slack return for their third and steer run under the lights of the Ford Grandstand Arena. It is one of the last rodeos to carry on rodeo's most nostalgic tradition of the sport. When the rodeo production was brought in-house, the board unanimously voted to add the Ladies Breakaway event to the lineup in 2022. Courtny Conkle, the General Manager of the Wyoming State Fair, shared some details behind the success with the rodeo's addition of the event. "Between the state fair board, the team that produces the rodeo, and the booster club, they have done a really good job of honoring the history and heritage of rodeo, while also making sure that we're remaining relevant. And one of those steps was adding breakaway into our performances; it really changed things for the better." On Wednesday night, the ladies showed off their talents, as It has quickly become one of the favorites amongst rodeo fans in Wyoming. For the second year in a row the Wyoming State Fair PRCA Rodeo has partnered with the Wyoming Breast Cancer Initiative to raise funds for Wyomingites affected by cancer with the Tough Enough To Wear Pink night. On Wednesday evening, a pair of pink detailed leather chaps were auctioned off. Wrangler matched the first $1,000 of funds raised. Wyoming Breast Cancer Initiative board member, Cathy Holman graciously accepted the By Reba Talbott Wyoming State Fair Brings Wyoming State Fair Brings 2025 Miss Rodeo Wyoming, Dusty Miller.

• Cover