With the goal of making the Flagstaff Pro Rodeo bigger and better every year, Rodeo President Mike Hughes says specialty highlights, like after-parties, have kept fans coming back for more. But this year, the rodeo committee added crowd-pleasing opening acts to the main show of bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, team roping, steer wrestling, tie-down roping, barrel racing and bull riding.
“Last year, our attendance was around 8,500,” said Flagstaff Pro Rodeo President Mike Hughes. “This year, we were at 10,000 or a skosh over.”
Hughes has been involved with the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) sanctioned Flagstaff Pro Rodeo since its inception in 2014. “Our goal is to be one of the premier rodeos in the state of Arizona.” Snowballing the energy of opening acts was one way that the rodeo committee increased the fun-factor for the crowd this year.
“Each night, we tried to ramp up the opening act,” he said. “Thursday night, in front of 2,000 people, we had a flyover with a single helicopter. It flew in 150 feet over the deck.”
In addition, each night was dedicated to a different cause, and Thursday night was devoted to Arizona Suicide Prevention Coalition and Horses, Heroes and Hope, which provides horse therapy for active-duty military, veterans and first responders. Volunteers wore turquoise or purple, the colors of suicide prevention.
Although Thursday night is a traditionally slow night for rodeo, this year’s attendance was up from last year. That trend in attendance was seen throughout the rodeo weekend. One of the contributing factors to higher attendance numbers may be attributed to this year’s outdoor advertising billboards in the north Valley on I-17 and at Bearizona on I-40 that announced the upcoming rodeo. Hughes estimated that 65% of attendees come from out of town to celebrate the Western lifestyle.
Friday, First Responders Night, opened with two helicopters flying by at 100 feet off the ground. The aircraft flew in a staggered formation and then, after buzzing the crowd of 3,000, peeled off to the right and left. Guardian Air flew the Bell 407 helicopters. “They have been very generous with their time and their pilots,” said Hughes, a firefighter who retired after serving in Flagstaff for 28 years.
On the third night, Military Appreciation Night, each branch of the military was recognized as its song was played and a horse galloped around the area with its rider carrying the service’s flag. The rider pulled up facing the crowd and stood at attention as the next song played and flag ran out. Immediately after the last horse and rider lined up, a precision parachutist sailed out of the sky carrying the Arizona state flag. A second jumper followed with the United States flag as the crowd of 5,000 rose from their seats. The skydivers from the Black Daggers, the official U.S. Army Special Operations Command Parachute Demonstration Team, flew in on colossal black and red flexible wing glider parachutes. The special-ops team, which jumped from 13,000 feet, is one of the top precision jumping teams in the world.
“I was working with the U.S. Army for months and months and months to bring them to Flagstaff,” said a beaming Hughes. “It was one of my biggest personal accomplishments for the rodeo.” Hughes took the reins from Kristen Daulton, whose term as Flagstaff Pro Rodeo President was up last year. “I said I wouldn’t do it unless she was in the number two spot,” said Hughes.
“This rodeo grows each year in so many ways; I love watching the Flagstaff Pro Rodeo bring the Western heritage to this mountain town. We have such an amazing team that brings life back to that arena, can’t wait for the next one,” said Daulton, who now serves as vice president for the Flagstaff Pro Rodeo.
“We were one of the first rodeos in the country to have a band inside the rodeo arena right after the rodeo,” said Hughes. “On Saturday, the band sets up on a semi lowboy trailer beforehand. We bring out the trailer after the rodeo is over, and people just flood the arena. People really enjoy that.”
Since Flagstaff Pro Rodeo initiated the musical grand finale, other rodeos have started doing it. “I guess that it’s flattery to be copied,” Hughes said. The rodeo committee brought this year’s band, Gethen Jenkins, in from Nashville. Gethen was named 2018’s Best Outlaw Country Artist by L.A. Weekly.
“We want to attract more high-end contestants, and we do that by increasing the purses,” said Hughes, who also operates a dog-training business, PAWSitive EFFECTS. “Our other goals are to give more back to the community and be self-sustaining,” he added. According to Hughes, the Flagstaff Pro Rodeo gives $10,000 to 15,000 to Arizona Suicide Prevention Coalition; Horses, Heroes and Hope; 4-H; local youth football; and other charities.
“We could not do it without our volunteers, board, committee members and sponsors, both the sponsors that bring money to the table and our in-kind donors,” he said. Twin Arrows Casino Resort was the Flagstaff Pro Rodeo’s Presenting Sponsor. Of the more than 100 generous sponsors, CollegeAmerica, Coors Legacy Beverage, CORE Construction, Dodge Ram Rodeo, KAFF Country Radio, Little America Hotel, Nackard Pepsi and Tractor Supply Co. were some of the largest.
Hughes said, “We do this because we love the sport, we want to see families have fun, bring business to Flagstaff and give back to the community.” FBN
By Stacey Wittig, FBN
Flagstaff Pro Rodeo: flagstaffrodeo.com