Rodeo of the Ozarks Hopes To Buck Rain
by June 29, 2009 12:00 am 85 views
Let’s see, it’s July in Springdale. What does that mean?
Ah, yes, the Rodeo of the Ozarks.
The 65th version takes place July 1-4, with nearly 500 cowboys and cowgirls expected to compete. Named one of the nation’s top five large outdoor rodeos by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association in 2008, the Rodeo of the Ozarks opens its gates at 6 p.m. nightly.
Tex Holt, a member of the 2009 Board of Directors, is optimistic when it comes to how many bodies will pass through those gates, even given the lackluster state of the economy.
“We look at that, we study that and we play with that,” Holt said of how the economy might affect attendance. “But what we’re hoping is that people stay closer to home and do things closer to home instead of going on long trips.”
If that scenario unfolds, Holt estimated the Rodeo of the Ozarks will generate about $350,000 in revenue, the same as in recent years.
“What we really hope is that the good Lord keeps the rain away,” Holt said. “Rain is what keeps the people away.”