Bigfork asks county to reconsider rodeo

Supporters of a proposed Bigfork rodeo have asked the Flathead County commissioners to take a stand in favor of the rodeo and help Bigfork overturn a decision made by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association to not sanction the event.

The PRCA board of directors last week voted to reject Bigfork’s rodeo planned July 6-7 after Flathead County Fairgrounds Manager Mark Campbell and the Fair Board formally opposed the Bigfork event, arguing the dates are too close to the Northwest Montana Fair PRCA Rodeo in mid-August and would affect marketing and ticket sales for the fair rodeo.

Paul Mutascio, president of the Community Foundation for a Better Bigfork, told the commissioners there is tremendous community support for a Bigfork rodeo, and asked them to put the matter on their agenda for further discussion.

He noted the PRCA vote to not sanction Bigfork’s rodeo was not a unanimous decision, “and there was an implication the commissioners were in opposition.

“I found no evidence this was the case,” Mutascio said, adding that he believes the PRCA board was led to believe “the entire county was against it.

“We feel the commissioners should take a position,” he said. “A strong voice would help us overturn their position.”

Bigfork Chamber of Commerce Director Rebekah King told the commissioners the Bigfork rodeo has the support of several organizations, including the West Shore Visitors Bureau and Lakeside-Somers Chamber of Commerce. The Bigfork rodeo organizers intended to cross-promote their event with the fair rodeo, and anticipated a crowd of 1,500 each night at the two-day Bigfork rodeo.

King told the Inter Lake she met with Campbell last week and had a “really good conversation” during which questions were asked and information was shared.

Campbell said he had only 24 hours to file a response with the PRCA board after learning about the Bigfork event, so he verbally polled Fair Board members and found they supported his viewpoint that having two PRCA rodeos timed close together would adversely affect the fair rodeo.

Commissioner Phil Mitchell said he believes the Fair Board should have spent more time on the matter before supporting a stand to object to Bigfork’s event.

“My feeling is that because they (the two rodeos) were six weeks apart I didn’t have a problem with it,” Mitchell said. “I think it would be a benefit to everyone … we’ll do what we think is best at the commissioner level and if it upsets the Fair Board I don’t really care. Someone’s not convinced me that this would affect the [Northwest Montana] Fair.”

Commissioner Pam Holmquist encouraged the Bigfork rodeo supporters to take their case to the Fair Board, saying “they need to hash it out first” before the commissioners decide if the matter should be pursued further.

Commissioner Gary Krueger was out of town when the Bigfork representatives addressed the commission.

Campbell said the Fair Board won’t have a quorum for its regularly scheduled Feb. 8 meeting, but told the Inter Lake he would schedule a special Fair Board meeting if needed.

“My challenge gets to be that as of [Wednesday] I don’t have access to three board members who are out of state,” Campbell said.

It’s possible some of the Fair Board members could meet without a quorum on Feb. 8, but that decision has not yet been made, Campbell said. He encouraged those interested in the Bigfork rodeo to check the county website or call the fair office for meeting information.

“We’re trying to seek a solution that’s good for everybody,” he added, adding that “in hindsight” it would have been beneficial to hear from the Bigfork groups prior to the PRCA board meeting on Jan. 22.

New West Rodeo Productions of Browning, which would provide the stock for the Bigfork rodeo, has asked Rob Brisendine of Road Creek Events to explore venues and support in other communities to hold a PRCA rodeo.

“We have given the county and Fair Board a drop-dead date until the end of February to overturn their opposition to the PRCA before we officially take the rodeo to another community,” Brisendine wrote in an email to the Inter Lake Tuesday afternoon. “We are considering Bozeman, Fort McDowell, Arizona, Payette, Idaho, and a few others that have expressed interest over the years.

“This is not what we want and not what the community wants so we hope to be holding a rodeo in Bigfork this summer and working together with the fairgrounds to help them improve and reach new customers also, but time is our enemy right now,” Brisendine added.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.