Lodging Panel Approves Spring/Summer Rodeo Funding

The Prowers County Lodging Panel approved contract fees for stock for two rodeos coming to the county this spring and summer.  Cade Spitz outlined some aspects of the Colorado Jr. Rodeo Association event set for August 14 – 17^th at the Prowers County Fairgrounds.  “These will be the year end finals for the CJRA,” he explained, stating that an estimated 120-130 contestants aged from 5 to 18 will compete.  He added that youngsters from Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska and Wyoming will vie for prizes, scholarships and prize money.  “We’re introducing a businessman’s calf roping event as well,” said Spitz.  Fifteen local businessmen will be teamed with a contestant to see which one has the best time for roping their calf in friendly competition.  A Saturday night BBQ has been planned at the Lamar Elks Lodge and the awards program will be held that Sunday afternoon. The request for $15,000 was granted by the Panel. 

The Panel also approved an $8,000 request for stock contracts, requested by Mike Reed, representing the Colorado State High School Rodeo/Southeast All Stars Rodeo Team.  Their rodeo is set for April 4 -6 at the Fairgrounds.  Reed estimated that 150 contestants and parents will be on hand for the three day event, but none will be from out-of-state.   

Panel members discussed financial matters, noting that their 2014 budget of $65,000 had been half accounted for in three requests; the $23,000 for the two rodeo events and an annual $11,000 funding request for musical entertainment during the August Sand and Sage Fair.  The budget is still very solvent though, in light of a $29,000 carry-over from 2013.  Panel President, Pat Palmer, said he’d like to see some new events appear before the Panel, noting that the Mounted Thunder Cowboy shooting competition at the Fairgrounds, promoted by Axel Thurner, is the only new event that’s been introduced in the past two years.  Members agreed that a contract for future funding requests to pay for stock contracts will need to accompany the request, simply for accountability.   

Prowers County Commissioner, Wendy Buxton-Andrade told the panel she understood that legislation may be introduced this year which would keep a community’s lodging tax proceeds within the county.  Currently, any similar lodging panel in the state has their quarterly payments sent to the Colorado Treasury Secretary and the payments are sent back to the counties without an explanation of how the funding has been apportioned.  The panel has received checks ranging between $6.88 to $15,000 without knowing from which quarter they’ve been paid.  Andrade said she’d keep panel members posted on developments in the legislature.

By Russ Baldwin