ProRodeo Sports News - August 21, 2020

PRORODEO SEASON

Photo courtesy Debbie Mills The Douglas County Fair and Rodeo in Castle Rock, Colo., is typically surrounded by carnival rides, food stands and vendors, but not in 2020. Many cuts were made in order for the rodeo to be held in compliance with COVID-19 regulations.

J ustin Lamb hasn’t had the most restful summer. And spring wasn’t much easier. It’s not just that Lamb works in the medical field in this year of the COVID-19 pandemic, but he’s also the marketing and communications director for the Southeastern Pro Rodeo, which was scheduled to happen March 27-28. Like so many others who

Committees go extra mile to host rodeos with pandemic regulations COVID Cooperating With BY MATT NABER

and Rodeo in Kalispell and the Douglas County Fair and Rodeo in Castle Rock, Colo., maintained their August competition dates by preparing as soon as the shutdown began. “Around March 15, everything came to a screeching halt,” said Debbie Mills, Douglas County Fair & Rodeo Director, Fair & Rodeo

work in rodeo, Lamb scrambled to keep the rodeo in Ocala, Fla., from being canceled this season. While the rodeo was pushed back to July 24-25 and had reduced capacity, the rodeo went off, despite some touch- and-go moments. “On March 13, everything broke loose and we got shut down,” Lamb said. “I deal with it (COVID-19) every day, so my outlook is a little different.” On the opposite end of the country, the Northwest Montana Fair

Marketing & Sponsorship Chair, and a member of the rodeo committee. “I think we wanted to show people we could do it and do it responsibly. Our Western culture and heritage are really important so we wanted to go to bat and say, ‘We can do this,’ but we needed the support of the commissioners and the staff.” Shockwaves of infection outbreaks, constantly changing regulations and shifting public opinions ensued.

ProRodeo Sports News 8/21/2020

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