COVID-19 and the Western Industry

Updated April 17, 2020

As the world starts to shut down city by city, Cowboy Lifestyle Network thought it would be important to update our fans on current closures and effects of this outbreak moving forward. I’m not sure if anyone else feels this way, but I remember COVID-19 starting with the toilet paper memes on Facebook. I didn’t think it was a big deal and I thought it was something that would blow over just like everything else that becomes a hot commodity on social media. And then the unbelievable news hit my ears…Houston Rodeo was closing its doors. I truly did think that that was a joke. I had to look it up because there was no way that the largest rodeo in Texas was shutting its doors because of this, but it did. And that was just the beginning.

Here is what the Texas Tribune had to say about the loss that Houston will feel because of the shutdown,

The cancellation robs Houston of an untold portion of the enormous economic boon brought every year by the event. Last year, the 24-day celebration generated $391 million in economic activity in the greater Houston area and attracted more than 2.5 million visitors.

Now, I don’t want to make light of this situation or minimalize the fact that we are trying to keep people safe and healthy, but what I would like to push home, is the impact that these cancellations will have on communities across the country. Shortly after Houston, Rodeo Austin made the announcement, hours after they said the show would go on, that they as well, would have to shut their doors. The economic impact of these closures is devastating. Rodeo Austin is a non-profit organization that raises over a million dollars each year to give back to its community. Coming from a small town and running a hometown rodeo myself, this breaks my heart that organizations will go without, possibly in a time of need because of the shutdowns.

The PBR has also been affected by this outbreak. Originally, they were only going to shut down main events like Glendale PBR and run small, closed events at their home base in Pueblo, CO. Unfortunately, we got the news this morning that all events in the foreseeable future will be canceled or postponed. I have to give major kudos to Sean Gleason, CEO of PBR for not only trying to keep airing the sport but also to provide hours and jobs for the folks that depend on this for a living.

Check out the list below for an ongoing list of major events canceled, postponed or planned.

Canceled

• Madison, WI, Midwest Horse Fair & Rodeo, 4/17/2020, 4/18/2020
• Wichita Falls PRCA Rodeo, Wichita Falls, TX, 4/17/2020, 4/18/2020
• Red Bluff, CA, Red Bluff Breakaway Roping, 4/17/2020, 4/19/2020
• Red Bluff, CA, Red Bluff Round-Up, 4/17/2020, 4/19/2020
• Clovis, CA, Clovis Rodeo, 4/23/2020, 4/26/2020
• Lakeside, CA, Lakeside Rodeo, 4/24/2020, 4/26/2020
• St. Paul, MN, Minnesota Horse Exposition PRCA Rodeo, 4/24/2020, 4/26/2020
• Springville, CA, Springville Sierra Rodeo, 4/25/2020, 4/26/2020
• Bakersfield, CA, Stampede Days Rodeo, 5/1/2020, 5/2/2020
• Vernon, TX, Santa Rosa Roundup, 5/13/2020, 5/16/2020
• Killeen, TX, Rodeo Killeen, 5/14/2020, 5/16/2020
• Redding, CA, Redding Rodeo, 5/14/2020, 5/16/2020
• Miles City, MT, World Famous Miles City Bucking Horse Sale Matched Xtreme Bronc Ride, 5/17/2020, 5/17/2020
• Grande Prairie, AB, Grande Prairie Stompede, 5/28/2020, 5/31/2020
• Payson, AZ, Gary Hardt Memorial Rodeo, 5/15/2020, 5/16/2020
• Stavely, AB, Stavely Indoor Pro Rodeo, 5/7/2020, 5/9/2020
• Grand Coulee, WA, Colorama, 5/8/2020, 5/9/2020
• Bennington, KS, Bennington PRCA Rodeo, 5/28/2020, 5/30/2020
• Central Point, OR, Wild Rogue Pro Rodeo, 5/28/2020, 5/30/2020
• Sisters, OR, Sisters Rodeo, 6/12/2020, 6/14/2020
• Ponca City, OK, 101 Wild West Rodeo, 6/11/2020, 6/13/2020
• Monticello, UT, San Juan Stampede Pro Rodeo, 6/11/2020, 6/13/2020
• Rocky Mtn House, Ab, AB, Pro’s Out West, 6/5/2020, 6/7/2020
• Elizabeth, CO, Elizabeth Stampede Rodeo, 6/6/2020, 6/7/2020
• Marwayne, Ab, AB, Lea Park Rodeo, 6/5/2020, 6/7/2020
• Clovis, NM, Pioneer Days Rodeo, 6/4/2020, 6/6/2020
• Craigmyle, AB, Hand Hills Lake, 5/30/2020, 5/31/2020
• Hugo, OK, Hugo Pro Rodeo, 5/29/2020, 5/30/2020
• Roswell, NM, Jesse Andrus & Mike Hillman Memorial, 4/17/2020, 4/18/2020
• Roswell, NM, Roswell Breakaway Roping, 4/17/2020, 4/18/2020

Postponed

• Longview, TX, Longview PRCA Rodeo – RESCHEDULED TO 9/18-19/2020
• Medicine Hat, AB, Broncs and Honky Tonks Spring Indoor Rodeo, 4/17/2020, 4/19/2020 POSTPONED
• Auburn, CA, Gold County Pro Rodeo, 4/25/2020, 4/26/2020 RESCHEDULED TO 8/7-8/2020
• Helotes, TX, Helotes Festival Association Rodeo, 4/30/2020, 5/2/2020 RESCHEDULED TO 8/13-15/2020
• Carthage, TX, Panola County Cattlemen’s ProRodeo, 5/1/2020, 5/2/2020 POSTPONED
• Las Vegas, NV, Las Vegas Days, 5/7/2020, 5/9/2020 RESCHEDULED TO 10/8-10/2020
• Corpus Christi, TX, Rodeo Corpus Christi, 5/7/2020, 5/10/2020 RESCHEDULED TO 11/19-22/2020
• Jacksonville, TX, Tops in Texas Rodeo, 5/14/2020, 5/16/2020 RESCHEDULED TO 9/10-12/2020
• Santa Maria, CA, Santa Maria Elks Rodeo, 5/28/2020, 5/31/2020 RESCHEDULED TO 9/24-27/2020
• Ramona Rodeo, Ramona, CA, 5/29/2020, 5/31/2020 RESCHEDULED TO 8/21-23/2020
• Drayton Valley, AB, Drayton Valley Pro Rodeo, 5/1/2020, 5/3/2020
• Crockett, TX, Crockett Lions Club PRCA Rodeo, 5/7/2020, 5/9/2020
• Cortez, CO, Ute Mountain Roundup Rodeo, 6/11/2020, 6/13/2020 RESCHEDULED TO 9/24-26/2020
• Moab, UT, Canyonlands PRCA Rodeo, 6/5/2020, 6/7/2020 RESCHEDULED TO 10/2-4/2020
• Kingman, AZ, The Kingsmen Andy Devine PRCA Rodeo, 6/5/2020, 6/6/2020 RESCHEDULED TO 9/26/2020
• Kissimmee, FL, 144th Silver Spurs Rodeo, 6/5/2020, 6/6/2020 RESCHEDULED TO 10/2-4/2020

Still On

• Cave Creek, AZ, Cave Creek Rodeo Days, 5/22/2020, 5/24/2020
• Eagle Mountain, UT, Pony Express Rodeo, 5/22/2020, 5/25/2020
• Coulee City, WA, PRCA Last Stand Rodeo, 5/23/2020, 5/24/2020
• Coulee City, WA, Coulee City Breakaway Roping, 5/23/2020, 5/24/2020
• Fort Smith, AR, Old Fort Days Rodeo, 5/25/2020, 5/30/2020
• Crossett, AR, Crossett Riding Club 72nd Annual PRCA Rodeo, 5/27/2020, 5/30/2020
• Levelland, TX, ABC Pro Rodeo, 5/27/2020, 5/30/2020
• Cherokee, IA, Cherokee Chamber PRCA Rodeo, 5/28/2020, 5/30/2020
• Winnsboro, LA, Deep South PRCA Rodeo, 5/28/2020, 5/30/2020
• Springfield, MO, Ozark Empire Pro Rodeo, 5/29/2020, 5/30/2020
• Union, OR, Eastern Oregon Livestock Show, 6/12/2020, 6/14/2020
• Merrill, WI, Wisconsin River Pro Rodeo, 6/12/2020, 6/14/2020
• Innisfail, Ab, AB, Innisfail Pro Rodeo, 6/12/2020, 6/14/2020
• Gladewater, TX, Gladewater Round-Up Rodeo, 6/11/2020, 6/13/2020
• Eagle, ID, Eagle Rodeo, 6/11/2020, 6/13/2020
• Crosby, TX, Crosby Fair & Rodeo, 6/11/2020, 6/12/2020
• Coleman, TX, Coleman PRCA Rodeo, 6/11/2020, 6/13/2020
• Weatherford, TX, Parker County Sheriff’s Posse Frontier Days And PRCA Rodeo, 6/10/2020, 6/13/2020
• Cleburne, TX, Johnson County Sheriff’s Posse Rodeo, 6/10/2020, 6/13/2020
• Waxahachie, TX, Ellis County Livestock Show & Rodeo, 6/5/2020, 6/6/2020
• Hawley, MN, American Heroes PRCA Rodeo, 6/5/2020, 6/6/2020
• Herriman, UT, Fort Herriman PRCA Rodeo, 6/5/2020, 6/6/2020

This is only a very small snapshot of who and what has been affected by this outbreak so far. We will try to keep our fans as updated as possible on upcoming events. If you have any update that you would like to submit, please let us know by commenting below. The western industry should come together more than ever for each other in this time of need. Stay safe and healthy, and God Bless everyone!

CLN Community & Event Sponsor