We, as the officers and board of directors of the Sawtooth Rangers Riding Club, would like you to know what is proposed at the present site of the Hailey Rodeo Grounds and how it affects the future of your annual Days of the Old West Rodeo that has been a Western tradition for over 60 years. You should know that the Sawtooth Rangers Riding Club is a nonprofit organization and we are all volunteers who produce this rodeo on behalf of Hailey because we love rodeo and the historical cowboy tradition it maintains in our community. We have met with the city of Hailey and the Parks and Land representatives to discuss the future of the Rodeo Grounds on numerous occasions because it has been proposed to add another recreational opportunity to the Rodeo Grounds site.
The Rodeo Grounds site is quite unique in terms of location in downtown Hailey, and that is what makes it so special. Parking is perhaps the biggest challenge for the rodeo. We have approximately 90-100 contestants who compete in each nightly performance, as well as slack. Slack is the overflow of contestants that do not fit into the three performances, and is a primary reason our rodeo is successful.
What attracts contestants to a rodeo is the opportunity to win money, and the volume of contestants determines the amount of pay-out to them. So, for three days, trucks and horse trailers are spilled over the surrounding blocks around the Rodeo Grounds to participate in your rodeo. Unfortunately, the proposed plan for the Hailey Rodeo Grounds reduces current parking by at least 60 percent and seating capacity in the Rodeo Grounds by at least 500 spectators. Contestants and spectators are what make this rodeo financially possible.
Without the current number of cowboys and cowgirls, and you in the stands, your rodeo is not viable. If contestants cannot access the Rodeo Grounds and have space to warm up horses, they will go elsewhere. They have many choices over the Independence Day holiday, but have continued to come to Hailey and have voted us "Rodeo of the Year" for the last four years by the Intermountain Professional Rodeo Association.
Have you thought about the financial impact this rodeo has on you, as a business owner in Hailey? Are you willing to lose this tradition? We are asking you to think about and be heard regarding the effect of losing this important event in our town. The city of Hailey needs to hear from you. The proposed plan for the Hailey Rodeo Grounds, which impairs the production of rodeo performances, is being presented at the public hearing on Monday, Aug. 10, 2009, at 5:30 p.m., at Hailey City Hall. Please voice your opinion.
No cowboys or cowgirls, no rodeo.
Sawtooth Rangers officers & board of directors
Bill Bobbitt
Richard Smith
Mary Ann Knight
Kelli Taylor
Bud Amend
Bill Sherbine
Trent Shoemaker
Bill Flaherty
Brad Taylor
