Is this the end of (Cowboy) Days?

This year’s rodeos almost didn’t happen; PRCA fines Cowboy Days because arena is in disrepair

Kayne Pyatt, Herald Reporter
Posted 9/21/18

Cowboy Days fined by PRCA

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Is this the end of (Cowboy) Days?

This year’s rodeos almost didn’t happen; PRCA fines Cowboy Days because arena is in disrepair

Posted

EVANSTON — Labor Day weekend was the 82nd year for Evanston Cowboy Days and with the Uinta County Fairgrounds in disrepair, it may have been the last PRCA rodeo for the annual event. In fact, this year’s series of three rodeos came close to not happening at all.

Dustin Matthews, chair of the Evanston Cowboy Days Committee, said the PRCA sanction may be withdrawn if the rodeo arena is not improved to meet PRCA regulations. Also, Cody Flitton of Bar T Rodeo, which has provided the quality rodeo stock since the 1970s, said he will not return unless the stock pens are improved and deemed safe for his animals.

Every year, the PRCA sends two judges to review the arena, chutes, stock pens and bleachers to ensure safety. The judges are also the ones who score and judge the professional rodeo competition. This year those judges fined the Cowboy Days Committee for unsafe stock pens and inadequate lighting at the roping chutes on the west end of the arena. The bleachers are also a main concern. Until the fines are paid and the concerns are addressed, the PRCA will not approve the Evanston arena for next year.

Matthews said the liability this year was high as Flitton had to unload his bulls into pens where the latches were not secure, therefore Matthews had to shut the outside gates to the arena. He alerted the local dispatch that the gates were closed but not locked. He said Bar T considered leaving this year before the rodeos, but helped to repair some of the fences to make it through the weekend.  

Because it takes an entire year to organize and raise funds, Matthews stressed that the issue needs to be resolved quickly.

“The ball is in the commissioners court whether we see an 83rd year for the Cowboy Days rodeo,” Matthews said.

Matthews explained that it costs the committee $30,000 for the contract with Bar T and another $30,000 for prize money. The county charges $4,000 rent for the four days. The committee also had to pay the county $10 per day for each phone that used the wi-fi at the fairgrounds, something that Matthews said negatively affected the vendors.

The city of Evanston sponsors the rodeo by funding $10,000, but the committee has to raise the rest of their budget from ticket sales, vendor fees and sponsor fundraising. He was happy to report that this year was the first in four years that the committee saw a profit. They made $3,000 profit this year where in the past four years, they just broke even.

The Cowboy Days events cost $95,000, which paid for clowns, an announcer, stock, insurance and everything else. Matthews said they had tremendous support from local businesses this year and they had 60 vendors at the fairgrounds.

Matthews brought up the fact that he had personally called most of the motels in Evanston following the Labor Day event and found they had experienced 95 percent capacity over the weekend. He said that between the rodeo and the Fort Bridger Rendezvous, Uinta County receives great benefits.  Matthews suggested that the $2.5 million that the county set aside to build a new fairground could be used to repair the existing site instead.   

He said the committee may be able to deduct the cost of the fines from the reservation fee they pay the county. They are not required to pay the county until after ticket sales. Also, if the commissioners commit to making the repairs, the committee can possibly appeal the fines. 

Matthews said he wants people to understand that a PRCA rodeo is different from the Evanton Rodeo Series. PRCA rodeos are of a different caliber and have professional riders and stock. Often, Evanston Rodeo Series cowboys will qualify to go on to PRCA competitions — the two rodeos are connected in that way.  

“By the support we get, we know the community wants Cowboy Days to continue and I want what’s best for Cowboy Days,” Matthews said.

Flitton of Bar T told the Herald the problem is one of maintenance — the stock pens need to be upgraded because the panels were installed in 1970. The pins and pin loops are in disrepair, as are the latches, and Flitton was reluctant to leave his bulls in the pens this year and the judges had no choice but to say the pens were unsafe for bulls, he added.

Flitton said the stock pens aren’t just used for the PRCA rodeo. They receive heavy use by the local rodeo series and by the Port of Entry when truckers hauling livestock lack the proper documents and have to remain in Evanston temporarily and need to use the pens. He said others may not be so conscientious regarding the care of the pens. He doesn’t think the problems are any one entities fault, but the safety concerns do need to be addressed.

Flitton said Bar T has been bringing high quality stock to the Cowboy Days rodeo since the 1970s and it used to be the second largest rodeo event in the state. Flitton thinks that the city, county, Cowboy Days Committee and local residents should all work together to solve the problems and raise funds for maintenance to preserve an asset to the community. He said he wants to return next year but won’t unless the safety issues are addressed and a solution is in place.

Flitton did meet with representatives from the county and fair board on Monday, Sept. 17, at the rodeo arena, where together they inspected the conditions. A special meeting with the commissioners was held on Tuesday, Sept. 18, to discuss the outcome of that meeting. 

Fairgrounds manager Josh Davis said this was the first time the current complaints had been brought to his attention. He said he had made some repairs back in June. The roping chute was the only item brought up by PRCA judges last year and it had been repaired. He said if he had known about the need for more light at the roping chute, which was a complaint this year, it would have been an easy fix.

Commissioner South said the county is going to make the necessary repairs to the pens, adding that they have been aware for some time that the bleachers are a major issue and commissioners have been researching the cost of new ones. The current price they have received for covered bleachers is $998,000.

“There just isn’t money in the budget to cover that,” South said, “We are looking at writing grants, asking other entities — the city and others involved — for matching funds and checking out all possibilities.”

In response to a question concerning a rumor that officials from Young Living, a multi-level marketing company based in Utah, had offered to pay for necessary improvements if the arena could be named after their company, South said the company had not mentioned a solid amount and has said nothing about a name change.

He said the county will continue to explore exactly what Young Living is offering, as there was no clear amount ever stated but that changing the name of the Uinta County Fairgrounds and rodeo arena would take some serious thought. He said it would have to be a significant dollar amount before the commission would even consider changing the name.

South said Young Living had given the Cowboy Days committee a $5,000 donation this year.

As of Tuesday, the commissioners hadn’t received a formal list of complaints or the amount of the fines from the PRCA.

“I really want to see the list from PRCA before we spend $1,000 or a $100,000 if it’s not what they need,” South said. “Cody was very gracious, and he understands the money situation. As far as what needs to be done with the pens, we can do that.”

Uinta County Fair manager Ami Barker said she feels very positive about the future and the fair board is moving forward.

“We eliminated the concert from our budget because we realized that the money wasn’t there this year and we knew the county just couldn’t keep drawing from their coffers,” she said. “We are moving in a positive new direction.” 

All of those present who had been at the meeting with Cody Flitton of Bar T agreed that the meeting had been positive and said they are all working together to find solutions and make the necessary repairs.