ProRodeo Sports News June 14th, 2019

SPECIAL SECTION

FLAGSTAFF PRO RODEO Flagstaff,Ariz. June 27-29 flagstaffrodeo.com The fifth year of the Flagstaff (Ariz.) Pro Rodeo turned out to be one of its best. Through the first four years, the rodeo welcomed about 7,500 folks over the course of each three-day performance. But in 2018, that number ballooned to 8,500, board vice president Kristen Daulton said. “Last year, we overlapped with Prescott (the World’s Oldest Rodeo), and we thought we’d be slower,” Daulton said. “But we weren’t. It shows a lot of people want rodeo to stay around.” Located in the Dark Sky City, the Flagstaff Pro Rodeo offers one of ProRodeo’s most idyllic settings. Held amid the tall, ponderosa pines at the Coconino County Fort Tuthill grandstands, the Flagstaff Pro Rodeo offers beautiful views in and out of the arena. “It’s the hometown feel and atmosphere,” Daulton said when describing what sets the rodeo apart. “The weather is perfect. Flagstaff is the Dark Sky City, so you can see all the lights, all the stars in the sky because there aren’t a lot of lights here. When you walk away from the arena it’s pitch black. You can see all the stars in the sky. Flagstaff is a special place.” As always, one of the highlights of the rodeo is the mounted shooting. However, from one year to the next, fans will get different mounted shooting competitions. In the past there have been relay races, while last year had a mailbag relay race. The Saturday night performance (June 29) will be Patriotic Night. “We recognize everybody in the military and veterans and thank them for their service,” Daulton said. The Home of Champions Rodeo derived its name from six-time world champion and former PRCA president Bill Linderman, favorite son of Red Lodge, Mont., and a ProRodeo Hall of Famer. Phillip Nardinger, president of the Home of Champions Rodeo, was thrilled to talk about how critical the rodeo is to Red Lodge. The rodeo, which runs July 2-4, is celebrating its 90th year. “We have a volunteer committee that is very community driven,” Nardinger said. “Everybody who is on the committee works hard to make it a success.” Nardinger is aware of the rich history of the rodeo. “It is a lot of work trying to keep up the performance of the rodeo and the expectations that we have,” Nardinger said. “It takes a lot of research and time, and the rodeo is something we take a lot of pride in, there’s no doubt about that.” Red Lodge, is part of three key rodeos during Cowboy Christmas – Cody, Wyo., and Livingston, Mont., are the others. “The dates of the rodeo are great, and we have a lot of military in our community up here,” Nardinger said. “We do a lot of patriotic stuff, and the Fourth of July really means a lot in our community. We have a big fireworks show after the performance on (July 4).” Red Lodge has a population of about 3,000 people, but that jumps to 10,000 people during the rodeo. “We have cowboy hats everywhere when our rodeo is in town, and we welcome that,” Nardinger said. RED LODGE HOME OF CHAMPIONS RODEO Red Lodge, Mont. July 2-4 redlodgerodeo.com

Presented by: Twin Arrows Casino Resort June 27 • 28 • 29 Gates open at 5pm • Performance 7pm Fort Tuthill County Park

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ProRodeo Sports News 6/14/2019

ProRodeo.com

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