PALM SPRINGS, California---It may have been a long 17 year absence on the professional rodeo circuit, but the community of Palm Springs proved it has set a new standard for rodeo events.
“Last year a bunch of us local yokels, who believe in preserving our western heritage, decided the rodeo had been gone long enough,” exclaimed Palm Springs Historical Society President Greg Hough, “it was time to bring it all back.”
And it came back, with a buck straight out of the chute. Folks packed each one of the rodeo events on all three days and saw families from all over Riverside County and beyond. “We are stationed at the marine base in 29 Palms and drove out for the weekend. How can you pass up going to a rodeo? We are all from the mid-west and this just feels like being back home for us!” said a group of marines bearing the tell-tale signs of multiple margaritas.
The newest stop on the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association’s (PRCA) west coast circuit was aptly named after the late local cowboy mayor and hero Frank Bogert. The late cowboy hero’s wife Nagy Bogert and several family members were on hand to accept a special tribute to Mr. Bogert.
Mrs. Bogert, wearing her late husband’s cowboy hat become emotional when asked how he would have felt to see his beloved community come together to celebrate the valley’s western heritage, “I cannot begin to say how incredible this all is. It has been such a difficult year for us, but I know Frank is watching us from above and enjoying every minute of it.”
The Wild West Fest extravaganza kicked off on Thursday, March 11, 2010 with the Frank Bogert Memorial dinner held at the Spa Casino located just blocks from the famous Palm Canyon downtown area. The weekend was filled with everything from PRCA Rodeo Performances to a Cowboy Ball to an exciting music festival. Thousands crowded the grounds all weekend long to enjoy performances from Charros mounted on Andalusian horses as well as the Mounted Pistol Shooting Competitions.
Animal rights activist’s worked on trying to picket the event but were unable to sway anyone from attending, “I had a quick conversation with one of them, and to be honest I told them they should do a little more research and make their claims based on facts not misinformation. This is part of our western heritage and I am proud to bring my family to an event that embodies that spirit,” said Yucca Valley resident Matthew Smitherton.
Cotton Rosser, owner of the Flying U Rodeo Company provided the livestock for the event said “I have been in this business for over 53 years. If I did not believe in the health and welfare of these animals I would certainly not have been in business this long. The Professional Rodeo Cowboy’s Association has extremely strict guidelines and protocol with regards to these animals and my company agrees and adheres to them completely.”
It looks as though the Palm Springs PRCA Wild West Fest shot for the moon and landed.
For the all the rodeo results from this exciting weekend visit www.prorodeo.com/results
