The Sweet Home Rodeo is is out of the chute and moving quickly toward its 2009 event.
The rodeo has had a good and growing turnout the past two years, Sweet Home Rodeo Committee President David Kem said. But costs have gone up, and last year the event lost money, leading to uncertainty about what to do this year.
The rodeo projects that it will cost $38,000 this year, Kem said. That reflects increasingly higher costs. Organizers have cut spending in different areas and shifted funds to help keep the costs as low as it can.
The volunteer Rodeo Committee has been meeting over recent months and working with Sweet Home Economic Development Group to determine the fate of the rodeo.
“It was just making sure we could get a group of people together and make it happen,” Kem said, especially in light of the economy.
“Basically, trying to put on a rodeo, that’s our main goal,” Kem said. Other rodeos, such as the Salem Rodeo, are not happening in 2009, although no one really knows for sure why.
SHEDG, which officially took the rodeo under its umbrella a couple of years ago, has assured the Rodeo Committee that SHEDG stands behind the rodeo, Kem said.
“They are totally behind it, totally supportive. It’s a Sweet Home function, and they want to see more people in the stands.”
Following SHEDG members’ advice, the rodeo will emphasize advertising and publicity this year, Kem said. Sweet Home Rodeo is the only sanctioned rodeo with all events in Linn County.
SHEDG’s main concerns, after paying attention to everything the rodeo did last year, were to establish a timeline, goals and criteria for the event to meet and to establish how the rodeo would get more people through the gates.
Peter LaPonte, event manager for the Oregon Jamboree, has been “phenomenal” in helping with the timelines and offering ideas that have helped the Jamboree grow over the years, Kem said. He also has been evaluating ideas from the Rodeo Committee.
The Jamboree is an annual country music and camping festival produced by SHEDG to provide funding for local economic development projects. It grosses more than $1 million per year.
Beyond advertising, the rodeo committee is considering ideas, such as a horseshoe throwing contest, to provide more interactive experiences for patrons, Kem said. He doesn’t know if this idea will be put into play this year, and the committee still needs an expert in the game to help put it on.
“We’re doing the best we can with the sponsors,” Kem said, recognizing that times are tough. Sponsors who cannot fully commit will have opportunities for partial sponsorships or can make payments.
Organizers are optimistic about audience turnout this year, especially since times are tough.
People aren’t traveling as much, which means they’ll be looking for activities closer to home at a local event, said Kellie Kem, a member of the SHEDG board and a longtime rodeo volunteer, committee member and rodeo court chaperone.
With the uncertainties facing the rodeo earlier this year, the rodeo is reopening the rodeo queen process for 2009, Kem said.
So far, two girls had been trying out. The queen will be named following a single day of events.
For more information, to try out for rodeo queen or to volunteer for the rodeo and subcommittees, people should contact Kellie Kem at 401-2208.
The Sweet Home Rodeo is held the second full weekend of July with Sportsman’s Holiday. It will be held July 10-12 this year.
“More than anything with this rodeo, our biggest prayer is we have a large attendance from our community,” David Kem said.