Rodeo is nominated for national award

OGDEN — The Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo has once again been nominated for the prestigious Medium Rodeo of the Year Award by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.

Five rodeos in each of four categories for a total of 20 rodeos are nominated.

"We are very honored to receive the nomination and it is a tribute to the Ogden Pioneer Heritage Foundation and most of all to our hardworking Ogden Pioneer Days Committee," said Desiree Cooper Larsen, 2008 committee chairman.

Ogden Pioneer Days was nominated for the Medium Rodeo of the Year Award the first time in 2006. "Although we didn't win in 2006, the word is out that Ogden is now one of the best rodeos in the PRCA and combined with the very best stock, contract personnel and world class hospitality, the top cowboys in the sport are coming to Ogden. Maybe 2008 will be our lucky year," Larsen said. "There are over 700 rodeos in the PRCA and making it into the top 20 in two of the last three years says we are doing something right," said Craig Dearden, chairman of the board of directors of the Ogden Pioneer Heritage Foundation

In 2008, the Ogden Pioneer Days Rodeo turned spectators away at the gate on July 24 for lack of seating. Additional seating will be even more critical in 2009 when the 75th anniversary of Ogden Pioneer Days will be celebrated.