By Ruth Nicolaus
The Rawlins County Fair Rodeo is making big improvements.
The two-day Kansas Pro Rodeo Association sanctioned event, which takes place June 17-18 of this year, is working on getting better facilities and ground conditions.
The rodeo takes place at the fairgrounds on the north side of Atwood, Kan., and is in its third decade.
After some ground condition issues last year, the fair board pursued grant money and received $10,000 to improve the arena.
Rodeo chairman and board member Tyrel Prideaux has big plans. A local dirt contractor will rip the arena, incorporate sand into it, repack it, and shape it so it drains. Then they will add four to six inches of sand to it.
The problem started years ago when the fair hosted a mud bog. A pit was dug in the middle of the arena for the bog. And it doesn’t help that the bleachers are situated on the south side of the arena. Prideaux doesn’t want the fans (who, with their admission fees, help pay for the rodeo), to have dirt blow on them if the wind is out of the north. “I’m always worried about the spectators eating dirt all night,” Prideaux said. “Last year, I got more zealous about water and had slick spots.” He has consulted with KPRA contestants and PRCA committee people from area rodeos to get their advice. “We’ve made it our top priority,” to improve the grounds. “We’ll have a huge improvement on rodeo conditions this year.”
The fair board also received grant money to improve facilities. They got $25,000 for new doors on the building, new lights in the exhibit hall, and new flooring in the kitchen and meeting rooms. Grant money came from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation of Logan, Kan.
Tyrel has been rodeo chair for the past three years, and he loves it. He grew up in Atwood but not around horses, livestock or 4-H, and this is his way of being involved in a sport he loves. Being chairman “is the closest thing I could do to getting into it,” he said. “I’ve always loved the sport of rodeo.”
Eventually, the fair board would like to host more than the rodeo and 4-H shows during the fair (which takes place in July.) A team roping jackpot was held several years ago, and Prideaux hopes that it might be held again. The idea of hosting a ranch rodeo has also been tossed around.
Prideaux is quick to give credit to his family, the fair board, the extension board, and the 4-H families for all of their assistance in putting on the rodeo. Everyone helps with an annual cleanup day, and everyone pitches in during the rodeo to make sure things run smoothly. He is also thankful for local sponsors, who support the rodeo and make the prize money purse of $3200 possible.
