Staff members at Washington Trust put in volunteer time painting the Cheney Rodeo grounds May 30. Pictured from left to right are Kelly Troester, Nicole Bray, Dalton Bray, Jake Melville, James Robinett, Kathy Kurtz, Riley Ferguson and Wes Stumbaugh.
There are three reasons why the Cheney Rodeo has been bringing three days worth of fun and excitement for the past 48 years to the West Plains and Spokane region - volunteers, sponsors and the community.
"Without those three things, there's no rodeo," Cheney Events Association sponsorships and advertising chair Heidi Monter said.
While all are equally important, right now the rodeo is in need of volunteers, especially as this year's event draws closer. There are a lot of chores to be done to get the Bi-Mart Arena ready for the crowds that will be coming July 10-12, and unfortunately not many hands to do them.
Monter said only 10 individuals are involved in the logistics of staging the rodeo, and many of them are in their twilight years. Besides the annual painting, mowing and other upkeep needing to be done, the Cheney Events Association - the organization that puts on the rodeo - also performs projects making the viewing experience better and safer for fans.
This year, that is constructing a new set of bleachers.
"All of those things are done by a handful of people," Monter said. "Sometimes we'll get 2-3 guys, maybe 6-7 if we're lucky."
The need for volunteers at Cheney Rodeo isn't just a local issue. Monter said that at a conference in Las Vegas in December, she learned that volunteering needs are becoming more demanding as many rodeos change to non-profit status - something the Cheney Rodeo has been since its inception.
There are also volunteer opportunities during the rodeo, although the event will receive help not only from the Cheney community but also 100-150 volunteers from other area rodeos. Monter said many of these jobs require experience, but others do not.
There are many ways to find out about volunteering opportunities with the rodeo. Interested parties can go online to cheneyrodeo.com, or call the rodeo office at 235-4848. There are also Facebook pages for the Cheney Events Association and the Cheney Rodeo.
Perhaps the easiest way is to show up to the weekly work party every Saturday at 9 a.m. at the rodeo grounds. Monter said they always put on a barbecue to feed anybody who shows up to help get the arena ready for the 48th annual Cheney Rodeo.
John McCallum can be reached at jmac@cheneyfreepress.com.
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