Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
OGDEN — For the second year in a row, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) ranked the Ogden Pioneer Days in the top five rodeos in the country.
The 2015 Pioneer Days festivities were heavily attended during the week of July 24 with almost 40,000 attendants and close to 700 constestants flocking to the historic Ogden Pioneer Stadium, home to the rodeo since it's conception in 1934.
Alan E. Hall, Ogden Pioneer Days chairman, said he is "thrilled" about the honor.
"Every year we seek to make Ogden Pioneer Days better than the last, and we're honored our 2015 rodeo was a favorite for the world-class cowboys and cowgirls who competed here," Hall said.
The honor is made all the more impressive by the fact that the event is organized almost competely by volunteers.
"It's like a full time job on top of my full time job," said Jeff Haney of the Ogden Pioneer Days Media Relations. "Almost every day during the month of July, we have something planned so it takes a heck of a lot of work and planning."
Planning for this year's events is already underway and will take place July 19-24. Hundreds of cowboys and cowgirls will vie for supremacy in bareback and saddle bronc riding, steer wrestling and roping, bull riding, team roping and barrel racing.
Also hosted by the Ogden Pioneer Days Committee during this time is the Utah Cowboys Hall of Fame induction, the Miss Rodeo Utah pageant, a handful of concerts, one of the largest farmer's market in the state, as well as many others activities.
"One of the reasons we work so hard to make it one of the best rodeos in the country is because the people who come to see our rodeos deserve that," Haney said. "They deserve the best show we can possibly give them."
Sean Stoker is a journalism student at UVU interning for KSL.com. He runs a YouTube channel called QuestSeans. Follow him on Twitter @theroyalthey
