Rodeo organizers say returning event a success - Santa Cruz Sentinel

WATSONVILLE -- An estimated 850 tickets were sold this weekend at the Santa Cruz County Deputy Sheriff's Charity Rodeo, which returned this weekend after an 18-year hiatus.

And while ticket sales fell short of the 2,000-ticket goal, and it appeared the event might not have raised enough money to break even, the rodeo was called a success by sheriff's Sgt. Mike MacDonald, a driving force behind bringing the rodeo back to Watsonville under the auspices of a new offshoot of the Deputy Sheriff's Association.

The two-year effort to bring the rodeo back has had its challenges -- including a pending lawsuit that had it all in limbo until a ruling that came just a few days before the livestock trailers were due to roll into town.

On Tuesday, a judge in Sacramento denied an injunction requested by parties who sued the fairgounds on environmental grounds. And last year, the fair board rescinded rodeo approval after animal rights groups threatened to sue.

"If we knew the decision was coming in our favor, we would have promoted it more," said MacDonald, a father of two young twins who said the gang and other violence he sees as a deputy led him to want to do more to help youth. Rodeo profits will go toward youth sports and activities, organizers say.

"Overall, we are very happy for our first-year event and grateful Santa Cruz County has been so receptive of it," MacDonald continued. "People have been fantastic."

He said they asked people leaving

the event to critique it, and they are planning to make adjustments and welcome a larger crowd next year. It was sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, organizers said.

MacDonald, who heads the sheriff's South County Service Center, helped create a new nonprofit arm of the Deputy Sheriff's Association to handle the rodeo and other fundraising, called Stars of Justice Inc.

He was sitting in a golf cart Sunday with his wife, Marisa, and twin babies, Taylor and Sean, while juggling questions from a reporter and the main rodeo opponent, Eric Zamost of Santa Cruz. The two spoke about a stock subcontractor Zamost was concerned about and disagreed about whether a rodeo benefitting youth would help or expose them to more violence.

Zamost said it was his lawsuit that was ruled on Tuesday, and that while it challenges drainage into nearby Corralitos Creek and other environmental issues, his main concern is animal cruelty.

Zamost, an engineer, said rodeo stock handlers often use electric prods on animals while they are in the chute and that animal cruelty laws are not enforced. He said he has seen prods that fit in the palm of a hand and are used to shock animals without people seeing it done.

He was there with a camera to document the event, he said.

At the arena Sunday, most seemed blissfully unaware of the legal actions pending. It was all high-flying cowboy versus animal action, with help from the obligatory rodeo clown, a high-energy announcer and others, and lots of shouting and clapping from the crowd. About 130 contestants entered the rodeo at the start of the 2012 season, coming from several other states, organizers said.

The arena is in a small valley surrounded by rolling hills and trees and a few barns and homes.

"The arena is so nice and you have a good view from anywhere," said Casey Muzzi of Moss Landing, who competes in reining and ranch versality events at horse shows. " I grew up in the Imperial Valley and I've been to rodeos all of my life, and I love it. I'll be here next year."

Derek Witmer, who owns horses and lives on property nearby with his daughter, Mikayla, said he came to the Sheriff's Posse-organized rodeo as a boy.

"This arena has a long rodeo tradition," Witmer said. "My father-in-law, George Nunes, built the arena in the 1950s. It's a good family environment."

Responding to a question about the use of prods, he said, "hot shots get used with livestock in some places, but not here."

"Years ago, you'd see it, but people are aware of this issue now," Witmer said. "There are bad folks in every occupation, but this is a good operation, from what I can see. These animals are worth thousands of dollars and are treated like athletes.

"They run a good show."

Sheriff's Posse members were on hand Saturday and Sunday, too, helping patrol and carrying flags at one point. Watsonville police cadets helped with traffic. Events included the classic bull and bronc and steer events, plus barrel racing, and a mutton-busting and calf-chasing event for children held before the 1 p.m. main event. General admission was $20; parking cost $5.

Source: http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/rss/ci_19027874?source=rss

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