Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo restructures management

The Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo Board of Directors plans to hire a full-time salaried Chief Executive Officer in the next few months and eliminate the position of Executive Director. The Executive Director office holder changed every three years, leading to complications with long-term contracts and vendors. CFD Board President Jim Ward told the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle that the change is meant to bring more consistency and cohesiveness to the rodeo’s operation.

CFR to remain in Edmonton through 2016; team roping to achieve parity

The Canadian Professional Rodeo Association has signed a three-year contract extension with Northlands that will keep the Canadian Finals Rodeo in Edmonton through 2016. CPRA President Dale Leschiutta also announced that team roping will have equal prize money in the CFR by 2014. That’s a significant step for an event that was not included in the CFR program until 2003. It was almost treated like a specialty act or an intermission fill-in, and the team ropers had to provide their own prize money. “It has come a long way,” Leschiutta told the Edmonton Sun. “It took a lot of work by a lot of people.”

Bullfighter to appear in January TV commercial

PRCA bullfighter Jeremy Sparks has been chosen by online voting to be among 10 people who will appear in a Mutual of Omaha – Aha Moment TV commercial campaign starting January 2010.

The balloting started with 75 people and online voting cut that number to 25 and then the final 10.

“I’m excited to be featured in the commercial and very thankful to all the people who voted for my Aha Moment and secured my spot in the top 10,” said Sparks, 32. “It’s always great to represent Wyoming, and there’s no greater way than a national commercial.”

Sparks is an eight-time Cheyenne (Wyo.) Frontier Days Rodeo bullfighter and is currently serving as a captain in the Wyoming Army National Guard.

For more information on the Aha Moment campaign and Sparks’ career, visit www.jeremysparks.com.