Central Washington State Fair To Host Major Rodeo Event
The Pro-West Finals Rodeo stampedes into Yakima October 3rd & 4th, 2008
Yakima, WA: Central Washington State Fair, and Rodeo announced today that it has entered into an agreement to host the Professional Western Rodeo Association Finals Rodeo as part of the CWSF's fall events. "The Pro-West Finals represents a major step forward for our rodeo event -- which will now feature only the very top competitors who have qualified at other rodeos in the region," said Greg Stewart, Manager of the Central Washington State Fair. Ken Messer, Chairman of the CWSF Rodeo Committee, stated: "We are excited to join the Pro-West Finals eventwith such a well-known and respected venue as the Central Washington State Fair. The cowboys and cowgirls will all want to qualify to compete at the CWSF, and they will put on a great show." Representatives of the Central Washington State Fair and the Professional Western Rodeo Association signed the contract and made the announcement today in connection with CWSF entertainment line-up.
Central Washington State Fair officials have arranged for the Pro-West Finals to include two rodeo finals performances with a championship awards presentation on Saturday, a gathering of rodeo committee members, and a variety of public appearances and promotional events by the cowboys and cowgirls themselves. Fair & Rodeo ticket information is available at http://fairfun.com/fair, and regular updates about the Professional Western Rodeo Association events are available at www.Pro-West.net.
The Pro-West Finals
The Professional Western Rodeo Association (PRO-WEST) is an association of professional cowboys, cowgirls and rodeo committees that sanction rodeos throughout Washington, Oregon, Idaho and British Columbia. PRO-WEST represents decades of rodeo experience The predecessor of the present day PRO-WEST, the Washington Rodeo Association was formed by a small group of rodeo contestants and stock contractors in 1967. Today under a governing Board of Directors, PRO-WEST ranks have grown to a membership of over 700 members. Cowboys and cowgirls are competing for over $1,250,000 in prize money at 85 PRO-WEST sanctioned and co-approved rodeos in 2007! Contestants compete for points throughout the year, which are applied toward the year-end standings. The top competitors in each event qualify for the Pro-West "Finals" held at the end of the season.
Central Washington State Fair
Since 1893 when the first State Fair was held on these fairgrounds, we have served the community and the region as a gathering spot for numerous activities and events, including our signature event, the annual Central Washington State Fair. Through the years, we have grown from being a once-a-year activity to a year-round activity center. Our marketing radius extends from northern Oregon to the Canadian border, from Idaho to the Puget Sound. We serve individuals, families, groups, non-profit organizations, schools, spectator sports, promoters, and many others.
The fair provides an opportunity to learn about the importance of agriculture in our daily lives, but the annual fair is only a part of our success. Interim events span a range of activities, making it clear that there is something for everyone at the fairgrounds throughout the year. Activities include: wedding receptions, Quinceaneras, motorized racing, craft fairs, home and garden shows, car shows, concerts, cultural festivals, athletic activities including the Yakima SunKings and Yakima Bears. The list goes on.
Our fairgrounds provide a bridge to our region’s economic health. The top ten industry sectors most effected by these activities, in this order, include spectator sports; facilities support services; independent artists, writers and performers; food and beverage stores; non-store retailers; promoters of performing arts and sports; gasoline stations; hotels and motels; general merchandise stores; food services and drinking places. (The above-named categories are identified as Implan lists them in our Economic Impact Study.)
And oh…by the way:
The Fair Association is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation, and taxpayers do NOT subsidize its operation. The working relationship between the Fair Association and Yakima County is the perfect example of a successful public-private partnership.
Some 193 events, filling 288 event days (Dome 110 days/Interim Events 178 days), were held on our fairgrounds during the 2004 calendar year.
These 288 event days contributed $66.9 million in economic impact to the local and regional economy while supporting nearly 2393 jobs. We generated $9.7 million in local, state and federal tax revenues.
We are money generators. The dollars don’t always pass through us but are generated within the surrounding communities because of the types of events that take place on our grounds.
For each $1 in sales and expenditures on our fairgrounds, a $2.45 impact is generated within the local economy.
Note: Because the Fair Association has only conducted one economic impact study for the calendar year 2004, the figures from that study are reflected above.
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