It’s the biggest week of the year for rodeo folks; it’s National Finals Rodeo week in Las Vegas! The Claremore crew is in Sin City for the festivities, and they started off with a bang last night.
Claremore’s own Will Rogers Stampede Rodeo was named Small Rodeo of the Year….for the third year running. This is a huge honor for Claremore and the rodeo staff, as they earned the top spot out of more than 450 rodeos across the country. This makes Claremore the only community in Oklahoma to win the honor multiple times and one of only two communities in our state to ever win the award.
They work extremely hard at what they do, and it shows. Also, the Stampede’s secretary, Sandy Gwatney, earned the honor of Secretary of the Year. If you have a chance to thank David Petty and his committee for their hard work, please do so. Committee members include Dawn Petty, Bob & Alice Morton, Steve & Kim Peck, Shawn Porter, Grayson Collins, Bill Ogden, Wayne & Brandi Equels, Linda Caffey, Doug Watts, Amy Gordon and the MoreClaremore team. Tanya and her Visit Claremore team were instrumental in promoting the event. Joe Kays and his crews were very accommodating as always. Lastly, the sponsors of the rodeo provided financial and in-kind support to make it all possible.
Several Claremore people were in attendance at the banquet, including Dawn and David Petty, who are in charge of the rodeo, Lisa Rogers and Allison Burkhead of Visit Claremore, and city manager Jim Thomas and his wife, Kathy.
Dawn and David Petty
Kathy and Jim Thomas
Lisa Rogers and Allison Burkhead, Visit Claremore
If you haven’t attended the Will Rogers Stampede Rodeo in a while, you need to. It’s a fantastic event and tons of fun, even if you don’t think you’re a rodeo fan. You will be by the time you leave. It’s held annually on Memorial Day Weekend.
Congratulations to the Will Rogers Stampede Rodeo!
