Fresno State’s rodeo club is grabbing the bull by the horns to get support for the cowboys and cowgirls this semester so they can still participate in these hard financial times.

This year the rodeo club has a full men’s and women’s team, but not a lot of money. Sunday, Sept. 18, has been set for the clubs first fundraiser barrel race. It is open to all barrel racers for entries of $35, and people who would like to donate to the club. Sign ups are at 8 a.m., and the race will start at 11 a.m. at Fresno’s outdoor rodeo arena.

“Last year we had no extra fundraising, so this year we needed an early start,” Chelse Roberts, a junior majoring in plant science with an emphasis in crop production said. “We haven’t set a goal yet, but we want to get travel and entries paid for,” Roberts added.
“If we had more support, it would be better,” Kelsey Hayden a senior majoring in animal science said.

Although it is considered a team in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association, the rodeo club does not meet the NCAA standards, and therefore does not receive funding from the college like the equestrian team.

The cost of participating in the rodeos can be high. First, students wanting to compete in the rodeos must pay an annual $250 membership fee to the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association. Then at each rodeo it costs $65 for the first event and $35 for every additional event. There is also the cost of gas to get to the rodeos and hotel rooms. The two fall rodeos are held up north in Quincy and Susanville, Calif.

Roberts also keeps her 7-year-old horse Romeo at Fresno State’s rodeo grounds.

“It’s $80 per horse per month,” Roberts said.

That money goes to feed the cattle the students get to practice with. Roberts still has to provide her own feed for Romeo, as well as clean his stall every day.

To help offset some of these costs, the rodeo club will hold events this semester for fundraising.

“With having the bigger team, we will be holding barrel races and team roping,” Roberts said. The date and time have been set for the first barrel race. “We just have to figure out parking now,” Roberts said.

“Every year the rodeo club puts on a fundraising banquet, but it only goes to the rodeo Fresno State hosts,” Hayden said.

This banquet in the past has included the local band Cadillac Cowboys and silent auctions. While the banquet does cover the costs to host a rodeo that includes the six other college rodeo teams in the western region, not much is left over for entry costs and travel.

Insurance policies for the rodeo club also differ from the equestrian team.

“The rodeo club’s insurance doesn’t require them to wear helmets, but the Equestrian team’s does,” Equine Science major Lindsey Burham said.

On the other hand, the rodeo club cannot have rough stock practices at the college’s arena because of insurance and “the rodeo club pays more for insurance,” Burham said. Rough stock events include saddle bronc riding, bull riding and bareback riding.

“It’s nice to have horses on campus. It saves a lot of time being able to ride whenever I want to, plus the facility is nice” Roberts said. Fresno State’s rodeo grounds include an outdoor arena equipped with lights, an indoor arena and automatic water tanks for the horses in the stalls.

“It’s fun, and we want to encourage more people to join the club,” Roberts said. “You get units, get to meet new people, and get to hang out at rodeos.”