Snow Goose Festival Funded by Lodging Panel

The annual Southeast Colorado Snow Goose Festival, set for February 2017, received almost the full amount of their request made last month by Festival organizer, Vincent Gearhart. The request for $9,233 had been tabled at the September meeting, pending availability of funds, but was approved during the October 18^th meeting for $9,000.

Two other long-range requests were noted and board members pledged their support for the Colorado Junior Rodeo Association Year-End Finals and for the Sand and Sage Roundup Concert. The pledge does not mean immediate funding as both events are usually held in August, almost a year away.  Because of the duration between the request and the grant, the Panel’s approval allows the organizers to move forward with plans that don’t require financing until later in the year, closer the date of the event.

In this case, the annual concert has been set for August 5^th, 2017.  The cost of securing an entertainer and staging the event is $33,000 and Brandon Sherwood requested $12,000 which will go primarily to contract fees.  Danielle Woller, President of the Junior Rodeo finals, said her event will be moved to the latter part of July this year instead of August because of a conflict with back-to-school schedules for the contestants and their families.  She indicated next year’s Finals will be a four day event instead of the usual three which will mean an additional day of motel rentals.  About 160 families rented 113 rooms this past August and at least that many contestants will be anticipated in 2017.  Wollert requested $15,000 for contract fees to secure the rights to host the rodeo for a second year.

The Panel received a payment from the state of $11,327 for the third quarter of the year. The next Lodging Tax Panel meeting will be held November 15^th at 4pm at the PEP offices at the Rodeway Cow Palace Inn.

By Russ Baldwin