ProRodeo Sports News - April 3, 2020

PRCA CEO Taylor talks rodeo, pandemic with Cowboy Channel Pandemic News SHORT ROUND

PRCA maintains communication about COVID-19 The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association is sensitive to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), especially with the recent positive cases identified in the United States. The PRCA felt it was critical to communicate and put some additional structure around its plans for the 2020 PRCA Rodeo season. This is an incredibly fluid and dynamic situation. The PRCA is committed to being responsible, thoughtful and transparent in its work with the communities and its membership that are engaged. The health and safety of athletes, officials, fans and event hosts is a priority. The PRCA is monitoring official information on COVID-19 from health authorities and assessing the possible impact on the ProRodeo family. Ultimately this is not a decision of the PRCA. The PRCA policy, with our committees, is to continue to monitor the situation and to follow the advice of the CDC and directives from local public health authorities. To help provide PRORODEO fans, members and athletes with information on the virus and how it is affecting our sport, the PRCA is maintaining a webpage with the latest updates. That webpage can be found at http://www.prorodeo.com/covid-19

G eorge Taylor, CEO of the PRCA, gave an inside glimpse to The Cowboy Channel about the affect the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic is having on PRCA rodeos and ProRodeo in general. “It really changes the way you do your work and how everything has begun to evolve,” Taylor told The Cowboy Channel via video interview, March 30. “We got a call last Wednesday night (March 25) at about 5 p.m. when the governor (of

Colorado) announced and asked everybody to stay home starting (March 26) at 6 a.m. We were scrambling to figure out how we could carry on business with as many people as possible from our home offices (in Colorado Springs).” Taylor also addressed the impact COVID-19 has had on the PRCA season. “The way things are currently going, we think we are going to be fine, but we plan for a number of scenarios,” Taylor said. “Those scenarios would be what happens if we start May 1? What happens if we start June 1, July 1? Then things really start getting

Taylor

crazy if you move that out another 30 days. Thirty to 60 days we can handle pretty easily in partnership with our athletes and all of our members, but when you start getting out 120 days, it really changes the picture to be sure.” Taylor also discussed the possibility of the PRCA season extending beyond Sept. 30, the final day of the regular season. “Right now, I would say there isn’t anything that you don’t think about,” he said. “What we like to say is we hope and pray for the best and we plan for the worst. We have to be thinking about all those scenarios, how they play out and how to make all this work.” Catch the full interview at ProRodeo.com.

With PRCA rodeos on hold due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, cowboys have plenty of time on their hands. Sterling Crawley, a six-time qualifier for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (2012-13, 2016-19), will use some of his free time to interact with ProRodeo fans at 5 p.m. (MT), April 3 on the PRCA Facebook page (@PRCAProRodeo). Don’t forget to like the page and don’t miss out! To see old Facebook Live interviews (including one with reigning all-around champion Stetson Wright, who interacted with fans on March 27) click the video section on PRCA’s Facebook page. Crawley on PRCA Facebook live

ProRodeo Sports News 4/3/2020

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