By JOHN McCALLUM
Editor
For now, incoming Cheney Rodeo president Matt Wichman has two very simple goals.
First, keep the peace among rodeo association members who are friendly people but whose passion for rodeo can often lead to some lively board meetings.
Wichman's other goal is to keep the rodeo moving forward in a positive direction as it celebrates its 40th year of existence. The Eastern Washington native and longtime rodeo volunteer replaces former president Shannon Pelley, who was elected by the board in November 2006, but resigned recently because of family matters.
Wichman said several board members approached him after Pelley left about becoming president, and after some careful thought, he decided it would be a good idea, hoping to provide some continuity as the rodeo, which has struggled lately, enters its fifth decade.
“I don't want to see this thing circle the drains, so here I am,” he said.
Raised near Spangle, Wichman began coming to the Cheney Rodeo with his parents back in the 1970s, and first volunteered to help the association in 1979. A 1980 graduate of Liberty High School, Wichman said he has served in just about every position with the rodeo, including performing maintenance and as a board member at various times.
Most of the time he has worked in the rough stock end of things, even pulling chutes gates, something he said is a “massive adrenaline rush” but not quite his calling anymore.
“I'm not as agile on my feet as I used to be,” Wichman said.
When not dealing with rodeo matters, Wichman works for the Spokane County Roads Department as a heavy equipment operator. He is also a volunteer firefighter – the job he said he really loves – with Spokane County Fire District 3, living with wife Lynne on acreage between Cheney and Spangle.
Wichman's term expires in 2009. Because he became president late in the game, his main goal this year is simply as an overseer to make sure the rodeo's 40th running is successful. Many smaller rodeos are in dire straits, with some shutting down after this year.
“It's been a bit of a struggle,” Wichman said. “We're small, but there are smaller. We're the biggest on that weekend (July 13-15).”
The only change being made this year is the Sunday start time, which is now 5 p.m. instead of 2 p.m. Wichman said once they get through this year, he has ideas he would like to run before the board to make future rodeos more successful.
One of the biggest challenges he said is coming from animal rights organizations such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). PETA has been pressuring rodeo organizations in California to end some events, if not shut down completely, claiming animals are abused in order to gain peak performances, and Wichman thinks some of that may be coming north.
“We're by far not doing anything wrong, but they're (PETA) always hiding behind the bushes,” he said, adding that if there is abuse, the rodeo association would like to know so that they can take their own measures to stop it.
Even though the rodeo's struggled with attendance lately, Wichman said they still have many people who volunteer to help out, and are always looking for more.
“The camaraderie out here, we're just like a family,” he said.
Wichman encourages anyone interested in joining the association to come to a board meeting and see how things operate. For his part as president, the more comments the better, but he prefers that people present solutions along with their ideas.
“I just sit back and try to pick out the best ones,” he said.
John McCallum can be reached at jmac@cheneyfreepress.com
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