Bigfork rodeo gets green light from PRCA

The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association confirmed Thursday it will move forward with a PRCA-sanctioned rodeo in Bigfork July 6-7.

Flathead County Fairgrounds Manager Mark Campbell and the Fair Board withdrew their objection to the Bigfork event on Wednesday, paving the way for the rodeo to move forward.

“That [objection] was the only hold-up,” said Chris Horton, director of rodeo approvals for the PRCA. “Now that they’ve withdrawn that objection we’ll just move forward.”

Bigfork rodeo supporters and fair officials came up with a compromise on how to market both the Bigfork Rodeo in early July and the three-day Northwest Montana Fair rodeo in mid-August in a way that will ensure each rodeo’s sponsors are accommodated.

New West Rodeo Productions of Browning will supply the stock for the Bigfork rodeo, and Road Creek Events is handling the marketing. Bigfork community leaders wanted an event that could dovetail with the town’s popular Fourth of July celebration and give the throngs of summer visitors another reason to stay in the Bigfork area.

The Bigfork Summer Rodeo will be staged at a site near the intersection of Montana highways 35 and 82 in Bigfork. A professional mobile arena and bleachers will be brought in and erected on site.