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State fairgrounds home to prestigious national rodeo
Colorado
The Colorado State Fair has attracted another national event to its facilities. The National Little Britches Rodeo Association (NLBRA) will be moving its National Rodeo Finals, which will be held July 25 to 30, 2005, to the state fairgrounds in Pueblo.
"To have the Little Britches Rodeo at the fairgrounds is a big accomplishment for us, especially since the economic impact of the event is about $10 million to the community," said Chris Wiseman, general manager of the Colorado State Fair. "It's a prominent event that provides a positive environment for youths and their families. Their message and purpose fits perfectly with our goals as an organization."
Founded in 1952, the Little Britches Rodeo is the oldest national junior rodeo association in the country, involving kids from age 5 through 18. In 2004, 691 young people from nearly 20 states competed in the rodeo finals.
"We have a long history of helping young people become successful in their lives, and we expect the event to grow quickly during the next few years," said Kimber Solberg, NLBRA executive director. "When we began evaluating our options, we looked at various locations, even a few out of state. The Colorado state fairgrounds is an ideal facility for us, and it'll give us room to expand."
The NLBRA, a non-profit organization, has five divisions for contestants: Little Wranglers, ages 5 to 7; Junior Girls, ages 8 to 13; Junior Boys, ages 8 to 13; Senior Girls, ages 13 to 18; and Senior Boys, ages 13 to 18. The National Finals Rodeo is the culminating event, where members have an opportunity to win more than $100,000 in prizes and awards. Included in this bounty are scholarships that recognize NLBRA members for accomplishments made in the rodeo and academic arenas.
Its purpose is to support and encourage our nation's youth as well as to promote junior rodeo. For more information on the NLBRA, visit the Web at www.nlbra.com.
Date: 12/22/04
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