PRCA Fort Myers Rodeo packs house
After missing two years due to COVID, the PRCA Fort Myers Rodeo returned to the Lee County Posse Arena this past weekend for two nights of thrills and spills.
And for rodeo fans who had waited three years for this event to return, it was a thrill just to be there as both nights were sold out, with vendors running shy of food and merchandise it was so packed.
Nobody was happier than Bobbi Harrison of the Lee County Posse Arena, whose non-profit made a nice chunk of change by hosting the rodeo and who’s looking to opening things up for more rodeos later in the year.
“People were clamoring for tickets. It’s a great rodeo that brings us exposure. We are hoping to do more rodeos toward the end of the year, with bulls and barrels on the agenda,” Harrison said. “We want to hit those good weather spots.”
Conspicuous by her absence was promoter Margo Crowther, who was unable to attend her own rodeo because she was competing in the finals at another rodeo in San Antonio, with a lot of money at stake.
Crowther delivered a taped message before the rodeo wishing everyone well. This left her husband, Casey, in charge of things, having to worry about the entire process instead of having two people share responsibilities.
That didn’t mean there wouldn’t be a Crowther competing. There was 10-year-old daughter Stella who took on her mom’s responsibilities of racing in with the American Flag and competing in the barrel racing.
“I can’t keep count of all the rodeos I do,” said Stella, whose grandmother, Anne Peters, had just come home from San Antonio. “Rodeo runs through the family. I really have fun with the horses.”
Peters expressed how proud she was with Margo as she continues her quest to be one of the best barrel racers in the world.
“She has worked really hard to get to where she is. She and her partner, Sissy, have worked really hard,” Peters said. “Deep down, I think she knew she could do this. She just goes with the program and takes things as they go. She takes her best ride when she can get it.”
One person who was happy to be back was Trey Windhorst, who served as the announcer for the third time and was equally happy to be back in Fort Myers.
“You couldn’t come back to a better rodeo. People are energized and they really want to be back out after the hurricane and COVID,” Windhorst said. “It’s an escape for them, to be able to get away from the real world and the troubles they’re having and have fun.”
It was a bonanza for the vendors selling food and clothing. Nick Haupt, owner of Gypsy Outlaw, said they were selling hats and T-shirts like crazy.
“We pretty much sold out Friday and we’re on track to do the same tonight. We ran out of hats so we went into the stockroom and tried to restock.” Haupt said.
Things were so packed that rodeo fans even created an ad hoc front row on the concrete right up against the fencing that separates the fans from the bulls.
They not only saw the roping and riding, but also a calf scramble, rodeo clown Trent McFarland and trick horse Mr. Bojangles and his trainer, Jerry Thornton.
Fans like Fabio Ramos and Claudia Sofia have been to this rodeo before and have been at rodeos in Venezuela where they originally came from.
“Everything is really organized and clean, there’s law enforcement here and fire, they’re always ready,” Ramos said. “I like any event with horses. I just love rodeo in general.”