ProRodeo Sports News - February 23, 2018

contemporary rodeo peers. In ever-changing world dynamics, the Round-Up continues to reach new audiences, which in turn produces economic benefits for its community. The faculty is comprised of Round-Up experts who will provide in-depth instruction on specific topics. Round-Up University began in 2011 when Publicity Director Randy Thomas developed “Round-Up 101.” Its success demanded follow-up with a 201, 301 and 401 series, which completed the “undergraduate” program with a combined student attendance of 2,517. “It’s been great fun and very educational,” Thomas said. “Each class offering had similar student response – ‘Wow, I didn’t know that.’” For more information and updates go to www.pendletonroundup.com. Mayer honored with Gold Spur Award San Angelo, Texas, rancher, businessman, philanthropist and pilot Richard Mayer was honored Feb. 16 with the 2018 Gold Spur Award, given annually to one individual on the San Angelo Stock Show and Rodeo com- mittee for going beyond the call of duty as a volunteer. The San Angelo Rodeo took place Feb. 2-4 and 14-16. Mayer began his involvement with the San Angelo rodeo in 1974. His charge was to organize the arena, the bucking chutes, the gates for timed events, the grandstand for rodeo officials, and most of all, the dirt. “This dirt is sacred for Mr. Mayer,” rodeo announcer Boyd Polhamus said Feb. 16. Every year, two weeks before the rodeo, tons of dirt are trucked in and laid on the arena floor. The task of provisioning the dirt has become an annual tradition in San Angelo. Today’s rodeo is more sophisticated than it was in 1974, and Mayer has kept up the arena with the times, working out details with city of San Angelo officials over the years. Chicks N Chaps Tucson event a success On Feb. 18, the Chicks N Chaps organization held its Fifth Annual Women’s Rodeo Clinic in Tucson, Ariz., during La Fiesta de los Vaqueros. The Chicks N Chaps mission, vision and values are helping the women, men and families affected by breast cancer. The organization was founded by a group of Montanans whose lives had been profoundly impacted by breast cancer and who were all passionate about the sport of rodeo and its heritage. Chicks N Chaps is dedicated to helping communities raise money for local individuals and families impacted by breast cancer while promoting the sport of rodeo and the Western lifestyle. According to an article on www. tucsonnews.com Feb. 18, over the past four years, Chicks N Chaps has raised upwards of $20,000 for the Tucson community. Grand Island Round Up eyes future The Grand Island (Neb.) Round Up rodeo is upbeat about its future. All the elements are in place to make the event one of the better rodeos in the country, Steve and Kim Sutton told the Grand Island Rotary Club in a Feb. 20 article in the Grand Island Independent newspaper. Sutton Rodeo, a family stock contracting business, produces Rodeo Rapid City (S.D.) among many other rodeo events. It took 30 or 40 years to build up the Rapid City event to the status it occupies. Steve Sutton doesn’t think it’s going to take as long for Grand Island. The Suttons, who are based in Onida, S.D., will remain in Grand Island for the duration of the second Grand Island Round Up, set for March 1-4 at Fonner Park. The Suttons will make the Grand Island Round Up grow by “bringing something new and exciting each year,” Steve Sutton said in the article. They will add prize money and build community involvement. For this year’s Round Up, the number of contestants is expected to increase from 250 last year to more than 600.

Aaron Watson

Greeley Stampede sets concert lineup The Greeley Stampede announced its 2018 Superstars Concert Series Lineup, including Grammy award-winner Darius Rucker, platinum recording artist Dustin Lynch, Roots and Boots Tour 90’s Electric Throwdown featuring Sammy Kershaw, Collin Raye and Aaron Tippin, chart-topping Aaron Watson, and more to be announced. Lynch is scheduled to play June 22, Rucker on June 23, Roots and Boots featuring Kershaw, Tippin and Raye on June 30, and Watson on July 1. Stampede Superstars Concert Packages are available. The Superstars Concert package gives fans the opportunity to see all five concerts for one price. Packages are $80 or $110 (depending on ticket location). Package prices, based on availability, increase May 1. Individual concert tickets go on sale March 15 for $35 and $45 each (depending on ticket location). “When compared to other events, you just can’t beat the value of our Superstars Concert Series ticket packages,” said Trent Johnson, Greeley Stampede Night Show chairman. “There is truly not a bad seat in the house, so seeing five shows for one low price, a price you’d normally pay to see one concert elsewhere, just can’t be beat.” The Greeley Stampede takes place June 22-July 4. The Greeley Stampede ticket outlets are as follows: call 970.356.7787 or visit the Stampede Ticket Office in Island Grove Park at 600 North 14th Avenue, Greeley, CO 80631. Go online at www.greeleystampede.org or stop by any Colorado King Soopers location or call TicketsWest 24/7 at 866.464.2626 or online at www.ticketswest.com. Pendleton Round-Up University classes Pendleton (Ore.) Round-Up University recently Darius Rucker

opened class as part of a new, continuing education series taught at its downtown Pendleton campus – the historic Hamley’s Slickfork Saloon. Classes begin at 6 p.m. (PT) each Wednesday night. The classes began Feb. 21 and continue through March 21. Tuition is free to students of all ages. The university concept is to provide every local person, business, community volunteer, fan or

novice an inside look at how the all-volunteer event earned its reputation for Western lifestyle authenticity and maintains an elevated status among

ProRodeo Sports News 2/23/18

ProRodeo.com

17