As Pro Rodeo considers moving headquarters to Wyoming, conservative lawmakers question the incentive

Fort Collins, Colo. (AP) – Rodeo’s largest organizing body, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, has decided to move its headquarters from Colorado to Wyoming, the state with the bucking horse logo, the University of Wyoming Cowboys and the world’s largest outdoor rodeo.

There’s just one potential problem: conservative state lawmakers in Wyoming who balk at government funding for private enterprise. Enough of them could undercut the $15 million state inducement for the PRCA to seal the deal.

As in pro rodeo, the money at stake could go down the drain when Wyoming lawmakers hash out the state budget during the four-week legislative session that begins Feb. 9.

Wyoming loves rodeo, the official state sport, said state Rep. Rachel Rodriguez-Williams. She is the chairwoman of the powerful Freedom Caucus, which lists nearly a quarter of the Wyoming House members and votes as allies to many others in the chamber.

“Wyoming doesn’t like it when multi-million dollar corporations try to blackmail taxpayers for handouts,” Williams said in a text message Thursday. “We’re happy to welcome the PRCA to the Cowboy State, but hope they come the Cowboy way — on their own dime.”

Williams is from Cody, which lost to Cheyenne last week when the PRCA board voted to “seriously consider” moving its headquarters there. The PRCA’s ProRodeo Hall of Fame and Museum of the American Cowboy will also leave Colorado Springs, where the organization has been based since 1979.

Every July, Wyoming’s capital city of 65,000 draws more than 100,000 visitors to Cheyenne Frontier Days, a western-themed festival and rodeo considered the largest of its kind. About 3,000 volunteers work on the program, keeping costs low and civic pride high.

Plans to move the PRCA to Cheyenne also depend on philanthropy. Wyoming’s $15 million will be matched by $15 million from Cheyenne LEADS, the city’s economic development organization.

That’s pocket change compared to publicly funded incentives elsewhere, which aren’t always approved.

In Wyoming, Freedom Caucus lawmakers also recently supported defunding the Wyoming Business Council, a state agency that provides loans for business development. They have demanded a reduction in state expenditure in the upcoming budget.

Gov. Mark Gordon, who like Williams is a Republican but who is not aligned with the Freedom Caucus, supports both the trade council and state aid for the PRCA move.

“Rodeo has been a part of Wyoming since before we were a state. It’s in our DNA,” Gordon said in a statement announcing the PRCA vote.

But Freedom Caucus Rep. Scott Heiner of Green River said while he likes rodeo and would be happy for the PRCA to move to Wyoming, he doesn’t think the state should “pick winners or losers” by funding private enterprise.

“Businesses and industries have to be able to stand on their own,” Heiner said. “If they have a legitimate reason to come to Wyoming and the means to do so, I welcome them with open arms.”

Wyoming officials began efforts to move the PRCA last year. From here, it’s up to the Legislature to formalize the move, said PRCA chief marketing officer Paul Woody.

Woody said, “This is not a short-term decision. This is what we need to be in 50 years.”

Colorado Springs, meanwhile, is standing by as cities and community organizations offer to help renovate and promote the PRCA Hall of Fame and Cowboy Museum.

“We made our pitch, we made our presentation. We’re waiting to see what happens,” city spokesman Jason Strickland said.

A study showed PRCA landings would bring $253 million in economic benefits to Wyoming over a decade, said Rachel Zimmerman, director of business recruitment and retention for Cheyenne LEADS.

“We think this is a great project,” Zimmerman said. “I think the majority of Wyoming supports it.”