COVID-19 and the Western Industry

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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!

Krysta Paffrath

Hi everyone! I'm Krysta Paffrath, I am a proud Arizona native who has a passion for everything business and rodeo. I am beyond thrilled to be the Editor in Chief for Cowboy Lifestyle Network. With my background in digital marketing and rodeo, this was a natural fit for me to join the team. My adventurous and entrepreneurial spirit has guided me to work in many places like the WYO Quarter Horse Ranch in Thermopolis, Wyoming, a working cattle ranch in Seligman, Arizona, and many places in between. I am passionate about preserving the western way of life and working with different brands and rodeos to make that happen. If you're looking for a write-up, please shoot me an email at krysta@clngo.com. Learn more about me at krystapaffrath.com. Looking forward to hearing from you!