By NICK YAMASHITA
The Progress
The biggest draw to the fair is the real deal as one of the top 40 rodeos in the country, according to the Clark County Fair and Rodeo Executive Director Todd Robison.
“All the big names in the rodeo industry come because the competition counts toward the PRCA rankings and NFR qualification,” Robison said in an interview last week.
All of the prize money earned goes towards the end of the year standings and the total prize payouts will be somewhere between $375,000-$400,000, he said.
“We will know the total amount after every competitor pays their entrance fees,” Robison said.
Not only will the big names of the cowboys and cowgirls be present at the rodeo, but also the livestock. Five stock contractors will be providing the rough stock with three of the biggest names in the industry.
The big three contractors are Legacy Pro Rodeo (formerly Bar T), Sankey Pro Rodeo & Phenom Genetics and Mocza Pro Rodeo from Canada.
These companies have provided world champion stock and majority of the NFR bulls, steers and horses.
Robison said there is one thing that makes the Clark County Fair and Rodeo unique and different than most rodeos.
“Most rodeos hire one stock contractor who provides the stock, announcers, clown and pretty much everything,” he said. “We contract out to multiple companies and make sure we get the best possible whether it’s stock or announcers or the clown or bullfighters. We want the best.”
Robison says he runs the business side of the rodeo but the committee includes several key people who get down and dusty doing a fantastic job of ensuring the crowd gets the best entertainment.
This includes Mandee Davis, Aaron Jessen, Matt Stankoski and stock contractor John Growney of Growney Brothers Rodeo. Each of these play key parts in making sure the show goes on, Robison said. He added that they deserve most of the credit for the success of the rodeo.
As for this year’s competitors it includes several big names including last year’s all-around champion Brushton Minton, hot-handed Tuf Cooper, world championship family members Statler Wright, Jesse Wright, Rusty Wright and Ryder Wright.
There will also be local homegrown cowboys which include Randon Adams and Matt Shiozawa.
Robison added one of the annual traditions that people love is the sponsored team roping where each sponsor is provided with a team of a header and heeler and they compete to win a set of nice spurs for each the header, the heeler and sponsor.
Robison said this gives the sponsors an opportunity to get in on the action of the rodeo competitive spirit.
“The rodeo is the real deal and simply the best around,” Robison said. “Guaranteed to entertain!”
For more information on the rodeo, including a list of competitors, rodeo past winners and rodeo records visit www.ccfair.com/rodeo.
