- Grantsville considers reviving its city-organized rodeo after a decade-long hiatus.
- A survey shows 87% of respondents support the rodeo's return, with family-friendly pricing.
- Mayor Hammond estimates costs at $35,000-$45,000; event could occur next year.
GRANTSVILLE — It's been well over a decade since Grantsville hosted its city-organized rodeo at the arena near City Hall.
Officials are now exploring the possibility of bringing the competitive sporting event back, and they have input from residents who responded to a recent survey and appear to be on board with the idea.
"Grantsville has a long-standing rodeo tradition, but a city-organized event has not been held in recent years. The current effort is part of a broader discussion about whether there is sufficient community interest and support to bring back a rodeo in a way that is sustainable and well-attended," Shelby Moore, the city's planning and zoning administrator, told KSL in a statement.
Late last month, Grantsville officials asked community members to take a survey to gauge interest in having a city-supported rodeo return.
More than 600 people responded to the questionnaire, with the majority indicating support for a Grantsville-organized rodeo, according to Moore.
Data from the survey obtained by KSL shows that 87% of respondents said they would attend a Grantsville city-run rodeo, and 78% said they'd bring family and friends from other cities. And a little more than 60% of respondents said that if the city-hosted event were to return, they'd prefer it be held at the rodeo grounds.
Comments on the city's Facebook page regarding the matter were also generally positive, though some raised concerns about whether having the rodeo back would raise taxes.
Hammond said a potential rodeo wouldn't be a burden on taxpayers as it'll likely fund itself since costs would be recouped through things like ticket sales, concession items and sponsorships.
The majority of respondents who took the city's survey said they'd be OK with "family-friendly" pricing, paying between $10 and $15 for tickets.
According to Mayor Heidi Hammond, the event was discontinued in the early 2010s, in part, because the rodeo grounds at the Grantsville city arena needed improvements. She said they've since undergone improvements.
Although the venue has not hosted a formal rodeo in recent years, the arena and grounds are still often used by local 4-H groups and for various events, according to Moore.
'In our roots'
Jolene Jenkins, a Grantsville resident and former city councilwoman, recalled her family's involvement with not only the rodeo but also the rodeo club at Grantsville High during the '90s.
"I just remember the Grantsville rodeo used to be such a big deal," she told KSL. "It'd be kind of an all-hands-on-deck — all of us helping to rake the arena to get it ready. Every year, the rodeo club and the riding club would have a big cleanup project in the spring to get it ready for the rodeos."
Jenkins, who grew up in Grantsville, said she was excited to see the survey go out and hopes city officials can find a way to bring the rodeo back.
"I feel like it's in our roots," she said. "And so it's kind of like we're (remembering) that, oh yeah, this was such a big part of our lives."
Jenkins was recently asked to put together a historical display commemorating the city's rodeo for the Grantsville Sociable, an annual community gathering being held Saturday, March 21, at the high school.
But Grantsville hasn't been completely without a rodeo; Tooele County's Bit N' Spur Rodeo takes place at The Peak Sports and Entertainment Complex — which is located within the city's limits — annually in July.
City officials will use information from the recent survey to keep the discussions going as they examine the viability of bringing the rodeo back. But if the bull-riding, bronco-busting sport gets an ultimate green light, it won't happen this summer.
Hammond estimated that it would likely cost the city between $35,000 and $45,000 to put on a successful rodeo, which would need to be factored into its budget before officials decide whether it's worth reinstating the event.
She noted that if the city were to move forward with plans for a future rodeo, pending budget approval in July, the event would likely take place sometime next year.
"As our community grows, people are just really interested in having things that bring the community together — so I feel like the rodeo is something that would do that, and especially if it's held just here in town," Hammond said.
