MPCC to honor RW Fair Board with President’s Award

The Red Willow County Fair Board will be recognized with a President’s Award for its support and commitment to Mid-Plains Community College in providing quality postsecondary educational opportunities. The award will be presented at McCook Community College’s Commencement May 10 at 10 a.m. at the Peter and Dolores Graff Events Center.

Current fair board members include: President Jo Teter, Vice President Chas Fritsche, Secretary Brian Reynolds, Don Klein, Jessica Myers, Tanner Powell, Gail Rippe, Joseph Robinson and Joel Uerling.

In April of 2014, the MPCC Board approved moving the Rodeo Club to an intercollegiate team. The approval of the team brought with it the addition of the timed-event athletes locating in McCook. 

“From the start, the Red Willow County Fair Board has been generous to the MPCC Rodeo Team allowing them to utilize their facilities for practices and events,” said Michael Steele, MPCC Vice President Administrative Services.

In the 10 years since rodeo was added, timed-events athletes have a proven track record competing in the Great Plains Region. A big factor in their success is being able to have access to great facilities. 

“We have the flexibility to practice inside and outside depending on the weather or the arena we might be competing,” said Steele. “The facilities at the Red Willow County Fairgrounds are a big factor in the recruitment of rodeo athletes as they are better than most other rodeo programs across the nation.”

Steele said that Red Willow County Fair Manager Jiles Bowman and staff are a tremendous support for the team. 

“They help provide support in preparation of the grounds, assist in keeping watch over stock while the team is on the road competing and providing assistance with pen maintenance,” said Steele. 

Bowman said his staff is in constant contact with the rodeo team about setting up the facilities for whatever the team is doing.

“It’s a back-and-forth dialogue,” said Bowman. “They stay in communication with me, and we try to support them however we can, to help them have the best program.”

While rodeo team members are in charge of cleaning their areas, staff helps maintain the facility to ensure the animals are as safe as possible. The fairgrounds staff moves bales when asked, helps fill trailer tires when needed and supports the team whether it for practices or events such as the KPRA Rodeo, fundraisers or anything they are doing at the Red Willow County Fairgrounds.

“We try and make sure they have the best ground to practice on,” said Bowman.

The agreement with the college is that rodeo team members can also use the facilities year-around. Even in the off-season the MPCC students have access to the barns and if they want to come in ‘off-college’ they get a student discount.

With some of the rodeo team members being far from home, Bowman said it’s important the students know if they need something they can always count on the staff at the fairgrounds. Even if they are from as far away as Canada or Hawaii, like a few members of this year’s team.

“I think these students have a pretty good opportunity with the facilities we have,” said Bowman.

MPCC staff and students are appreciative of the relationship considering how many other events take place at the fairgrounds that don’t involve the MPCC Rodeo team.

“Overall, it’s been a good partnership between the college and the fair board,” said Bowman. “The college has been very easy to work with and we appreciate being honored with this President’s Award.”

Steele said as the college looks to the future of the program it looks forward to continuing to work with the Fair Board and their staff to keep challenging for championships in Great Plains Region and adding to the list of 49 qualifiers for the College National Finals Rodeo.