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Show B8 Vernal Express Wednesday, April 2, 2003 LFCSXSCBS CQ9lE Uintah pitcher, Danny Hatch, throws Granite runner out at first while play. Jace Mecham plays backup on the Dinosaur RocOeo Committee asks for rodeo to be considered as a tour rodeo. Although many other rodeos are facing the same problem as PRCA raised the bar for everyone, DRR committee members said they feel they have an advantage as most of the similar rodeos are already by Mandl Oaks Express writer The Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo committee went before Vernal City Uintah and Council County Commission during a joint meeting on March 28 to ask for $56, (XX) to help the rodeo keep and improve its subsidized by their counties and cities. For the DRR, the county and cities are untapped resources. PRCA has also changed the number of rodeos cowboys and cowgirls can count toward the National Finals Rodeo. Timed event contestants can only count 50 rodeos now and rough stock event contestants can only count 75. That will have a severe effect on the number of popular cowboys who compete in the DRR, as they will want to go to the rodeos where they can win the most money A lower rank also affects sponsorship. As we drop down in rank, sponsors pull away, committee member John Allred stated. A loss of sponsors has severely hurt the DRR as Coors, which has been the staple sponsor of the rodeo worth $14,000, has pulled out completely. That leaves the rodeo with few national sponsors, most of which are worth under $3,000 in cash. Snyder said in the past the DRR has shied away from sponsors such as Jack Daniels, U.S. Tobacco status. According to Scott Snyder, president of the rodeo committee, the Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo (DRR), for which has been 22 years, has come upon economic hardships due to several factors including new regulations by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) and a loss of sponsors. Without financial backing, the DRR will no longer attract the contestants or fans that it has in recent years. We want to be one of the best like we were," Snyder said fiiif Although the DRR is still ranked in the top six rodeos by rodeo cowboys, it has fallen to number 75 in the purse money rankings, which is how much money is given to the winners in each event. The current amount of DRR prize money is $5,500, which is a drop from recent years when it was $7,500, but the PRCA now requires a purse of at least $10,0(X) per event for the IK G r r 7s 1 I if' i ? i 'f i i i ! .5 t - 5 nights and weekends On FT.' Audlovox NT or a yu r aprenunt anytime minutes minutes FfKC NATIONWIDE LONO DttTANCI waueco ? 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Members of the committee noted that most sponsorship money comes from local businesses. Snyder also noted that Wrangler stopped sponsoring the bullfights, which used to be a huge draw for the DRR. This rodeo is by the community, for the community, Snyder said. As a community rodeo, the committee is trying very hard to keep the price of tickets down so families can afford to attend. Committee members noted that some rodeos such as the Days of 47 Rodeo in Salt Lake City have ticket prices that begin at $25 or more, when the stock and contestants are no better than those at the DRR. In past years, the rodeo committee has been able to set aside some money for a rainy day fund," but the $110,000 in that fund would only get the rodeo through one year at most. In a few years, it will be gone and so will we, committee member John Allred said. Snyder pointed out that keeping the rodeo at a high ranking will be beneficial to Vernal City, Naples City and Uintah County, which is why the committee is asking them for help. Snyder said the committee would like to see the amount of $56,000 divided among the entities, with Vernal City and Uintah County each donating 45 percent of the amount, leaving Naples City 10 for responsible percent. an economic to impact According study prepared by members of the rodeo committee, $56,000 is only 1 percent of the total economic impact the DRR brings to the area. We think the rodeo is a destination point, Snyder said, as well as Flaming Gorge and the Dinosaur Quarry. Aside from the tremendous economic impact, the DRR has also helped improve the community. National television has come to the Basin because of the DRR and the rodeo committee was instrumental in helping to build the Western Park. Committee members estimate that over the past 22 years, 300 volunteers have donated over one million man hours of service. Keeping that tradition, if the committee is granted the $56,000, $7,500 of it will go toward improvements on the Western Park and another $12,500 will pay the user fee for the facilities over the week of the rodeo. The remaining $36,000 will be used to increase the purse money amount in each event. The Western Park is our home, committee member and former president Joe Evans said. We want to make it the finest place it can be. After many questions concerning the use of the money and the future of the Dinosaur Roundup Rodeo, Vernal City and Uintah County each said they would need time to discuss the proposal but would make a decision by their next meetUintah ings. County Commissioners said they would decide April 1 and Vernal City said they would have a decision by April 2. County Commissioner Mike McKee added, "the DRR has been a good thing for the area, as it is 'a Basin event,' and not just a Vernal City event Light Tundra 4 Door Sedan Egg Yolk Yellow Door Hatchback 3 6 CD Player, Air, Cruise, Power Windows MP3 Player, Power Locks stock 23079 stock 23040 'N&surlliyi Al&w Patriot Blue Door Hatchback 5 Manual, Air, CD, Cruise, Power Locks, Power Windows, Under 5,500 Miles ' 2(M2 Dark Shadow Grey 4 Door Sedan Automatic, Air, Cruise, CD Player, Stock 22121A 2 (MU Maxftazl (JJ)r (U)mk 4 Door Sedan ZTS in Red Loaded, Advance Trac, Traction Control, Power Locks, Power Windows, Air, Cruise Tilt, CD stock 2547 Many More Specials r 2003 Expedition Eddie Bauer 0 Financing Dual Air, Cruise, Tilt, Heated & Air Conditioned Seats, DVD Player, Power Fold Down 3rd Seat, 1.9 On F-1- 50 Supercrews on Ranger Plus $2,500 Rebate On Lincoln 0 0 005s d0 iJMwzf MwcfQxpOB warn 9 C& (Md o I 4 t3HED o 8MB0 I |