Guest guest Posted October 15, 2008 Report Share Posted October 15, 2008 Good news! I love it when they lose -I hope they lose the snap down cowboy shirts off their backs this time. IRON RIVER -- Although business is good, restaurant owner James Duda still relies on the U.P. Pro Championship Rodeo to attract new customers. "The job of the rodeo has been always to bring people to our area,” Duda said, the owner of Zippidy-Duda's in Iron River. “This is what it takes for a community to survive." Yet after 41 years, Iron River was on the brink of losing one of its main events. Declining attendance, a lack of manpower, and competing rodeos have all led to $16,000 in losses and talk of possibly ending the rodeo. "The community doesn't understand what kind of drastic measures the rodeo is in at this moment,” explained Todd Laturi, the president of the rodeo’s Executive Board. “Hopefully, people will hear about it and come forth to help out." But less than half a dozen residents showed up at the Executive Board's meeting at the Iron River City Hall on Monday night to fight for the rodeo. It was enough to convince the board to try to keep the event; but the lack of support still worried Bill Leonoff, the executive director of the Iron County Chamber of Commerce. "The economy in Iron County has not been flourishing,” Leonoff said. “It's symptomatic with what's happening in Michigan. But the idea of having events is to bring people to the area and that helps your business." The Executive Board plans to fundraise their way out of debt and begin organizing their 42nd rodeo in June, which is expected to cost over $130,000. An expense, Duda believes, is well worth it. “We will do whatever we can to help make it successful." STAPLES supports this: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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