Rodeo overcomes fiscal challenges to deliver this weekend

Despite financial obstacles during the past year, the 2014 Kootenai River Rodeo is continuing this weekend with only a few minor changes.

“Nothing has been cut out of the show as far as events,” Kootenai River Rodeo Board Member Jim Baillie said. “People can expect the same great rodeo that they have seen in the past.”

With the loss of a $20,000 sponsorship from the Mines Management Inc., the rodeo board faced major financial struggles while planning for the Libby event. 

Gene Rogers, also a rodeo board member, said the rodeo fund for this year’s event dropped to $45,000 compared to the average of $66,000 in recent years. The result will be lower prize amounts for contest winners.

“We talked to the cowboys and cowgirls and explained what was going on,” Rogers said. “They still wanted to come back on put on the rodeo without any hesitation.”

A few changes were necessary to adjust to the new rodeo budget including cancellation of the parade and hiring a more affordable rodeo clown. Rogers said the previous rodeo clown received payment of $7,000 for his performance, while this year’s clown will receive a significantly smaller amount.

Rogers spoke with John Smith, co-owner of JS Rode Company, about the possibility of a decrease in pay. JS Rodeo Company has been the major stock contractor for the Kootenai River Rodeo, hauling an average of two semi-truck loads of stock to Libby each summer.

“When Gene told me about their situation, I told them that we need this event to happen no matter what,” Smith said. “I said it doesn’t matter what it pays, we will do whatever it takes to get it done.”

The cowboys and the cowgirls who wish to compete despite the $8,000 cut in prize money, support the event because they enjoy the Libby rodeo fans.

“This event is going to rock like it always does,” Smith said. “There is no question about that. When we buck that first animal in Libby, it better be a good one because the excitement from the fans won’t stop until we buck that last bull.”

Rodeo fan and former rodeo queen, Chancey Auge, has attended the rodeo nearly every year and is often involved with the event in one way or another.

“This is one of the only things that Libby has where people can come together and watch something that they love,” Auge said. “I mark it on my calendar every year because I don’t want to miss it.”

Libby Chamber of Commerce board member, Pam Peppenger, is an enthusiastic rodeo fan that believes the rodeo is an event that everyone should attend due its family oriented nature.

“The rodeo is such a wonderful thing,” Peppenger said. “Working with the chamber has made me familiar with the importance of promoting economic development. I think that Libby would experience a great loss without this rodeo and I hope that day never comes.”

While the Kootenai River Rodeo is scheduled to occur, rumors of the event not happening this summer were not far-fetched. Smith said that without the efforts of the existing sponsors, the contestants and the four remaining rodeo board members the event would not be achievable.  Attendance is key factor in the success of the event, and all rodeo board members hope for a great turnout to secure the future success of the Kootenai River Rodeo.

“Libby is my favorite rodeo to come to because we are like family with the community,” Smith said. “The new management has done a great job of pulling together through the adversity and putting this event on for the community.”