Large sections of the sheet metal covering of the back wall of the grandstands at the Toppenish Rodeo grounds lie on the ground after being blown down by heavy winds in December. Staff Photo

JOURNAL STAFF

Plans for the return of the Toppenish July 4 rodeo next year are moving ahead, despite some uncertainties and setbacks.

Rodeo Board president Barb Moses said last week that the event is planned for July 2 and 3, and the board will be seeking Professional Western Rodeo Association sanctioning.

She said the board is also looking for an organization to promote a rodeo on July 4, which is on a Sunday in 2010. 

“We think it would be a really good fit for a Hispanic rodeo,” Moses said, but she also said plans for July 4 are “still up in the air.”

Moses assumed the board presidency following the resignation of Richard Halvorson at the association’s regular meeting December 9.She said the board would also like to have a carnival at the rodeo grounds during the event, and inquiries are being made about their availability.

An Indian village and pow wow are also on the board’s wish list, if individuals or organizations can be found who will step forward to facilitate them, she said.

She said the board is finalizing the various elements of sponsorship agreements and will begin seeking major sponsors.

Moses said she expects sponsorship packets to be sent out during the next month and a half.

The board also has to deal with damage done to the grandstands earlier in the month, when heavy winds blew down large sections of the sheet metal covering the structure’s back wall.

Moses said a contractor will provide a bid to repair the damage, but the board is “not in any hurry” at this point to move ahead with repairs. 

On a more positive note, the rodeo association’s third annual fundraiser dinner and auction was successful, netting more than $10,000, Moses said.

Because of financial difficulties, the association has opted to cancel the annual July 4 weekend event for the last two years.

However, this year local promoter Dan Beard staged a rodeo that he said he hoped would serve as a bridge event to help keep the traditional rodeo viable.

Long-range plans call for the completion of the community center building on the rodeo grounds, which it is hoped will make the grounds usable by a wider variety of events, and enable the association to generate revenue sufficient for continuing the rodeo and provide for year ‘round maintenance and upkeep of the grounds.

Moses encouraged individuals or organizations interested in sponsoring the 2010 event to contact her personally, at 509-949-5957.