By Tonya Bina
Organizers have scaled back the number of shows at the Granby Flying Heels Rodeo Arena due to declining sponsorships and decreasing spectator numbers.
Two years ago, the rodeo hosted as many as eight shows during the early summer at the arena. Rising fuel costs, limited sponsorships, declining gate numbers and a need for greater participation in the nonprofit Flying Heels Arena Association have led the rodeo club to reduce that to two shows during the upcoming season.
Rodeo bulls used to be contracted through the local Riata Rodeo Company, but Lorene and Eddie Linke of Granby, owners of Riata, have sold most of the stock as the couple nears retirement, according to Lorene. This has forced the rodeo club to utilize outside contractors for its bulls, located as far away as Fruita, she said.
Rather than the five-show Rodeo series featured last year, Flying Heels will stage a show Memorial Day Weekend on Saturday, May 28, and one during the Fourth of July holiday on Saturday, July 2, right before the Granby fireworks display.
Rodeo is my life and passion. I was raised in a family of cowboys so it is in my blood.
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