Volunteers Ensure Good Cowboy Fun

Event coverage sponsored by Anderson Auto Group.

By Karley Glover/LHHS RiverScene

As participants geared up for this week’s Grand Canyon Pro Rodeo, volunteers from all over town flooded the SARA Park Rodeo Grounds to assist with all the activities.

More than 100 volunteers in Lake Havasu City joined together to plan and coordinate Little Delbert Days and the rodeo.

A Civil Air Patrol volunteer helps with one of the activities at Little Delbert Days. Karley Glover/ LHHS RiverScene

Youth groups and other organizations including Sea Scouts, C.E.R.T., Police Explorers, Civil Air Patrol and Interact Club were among those volunteering.

Volunteers assist in duties like handling animals, directing traffic and leading games and activities for kids.

Some positions filled by volunteers could be dangerous such as operating gates and chutes, handling the animals, and that of rodeo clown. These positions require some prior experience.

A Police Explorer volunteer assists with parking during the Rodeo at SARA Park Rodeo Grounds. Karley Glover/LHHS RiverScene

Many volunteers, especially those working with and around the animals and in the arena, dressed the part. Coming in cowboy boots and big brimmed hats, countless volunteers assisted with participant safety and behind-the-scenes operations.

Those operations begin long before the event. Event planners began meeting in September to ensure the rodeo went off without a hitch.

“If it wasn’t for the volunteers, we wouldn’t be able to put the rodeo on,” Jeff Sayre said.

From making sure all the gates are repaired to cleaning the grounds, the Friends of the Fair planned and executed its15th successful rodeo and Little Delbert Days.