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After 79 Years Together, Owyhee County Fair and PRCA Rodeo Move to Separate Weeks
After 79 years of being held the same week, the Owyhee County Fair and PRCA Rodeo will take place on separate dates this summer. The fair runs August 3–8, followed by the rodeo August 13–15. Rodeo leadership says the change improves scheduling, reduces strain on shared resources, and allows revenue to continue supporting local youth programs and community initiatives.
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For nearly eight decades, the Owyhee County Fair and Rodeo have been held during the same week each summer. This year, that changes.
The Owyhee County Fair will run August 3–8, followed by the PRCA Rodeo August 13–15. Both events will still take place at the Owyhee County Fairgrounds, but on separate weeks.
Rodeo leadership says the updated schedule allows better coordination within the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) calendar and improves competition turnout.
“It allows us to coordinate with other rodeos and draw the best contestants possible,” said Johnathan Cossel, 2nd Vice President of the rodeo board.
According to Cossel, running both events at the same time created logistical challenges in recent years, including shared use of facilities, parking, manpower, and volunteer strain.
“Both organizations were facing constraints with manpower, parking, and use of the facility,” Cossel said.
He added that separating the dates gives the rodeo more flexibility to expand vendor areas, improve hospitality for contestants, and potentially introduce additional entertainment elements in the future.
Rodeo leadership also emphasized that revenue generated by the event is reinvested locally.
“What we bring in goes back into the county, whether that’s supporting 4-H kids, or improving the facility, or donating to local nonprofits,” Cossel said.
While the dates may be different this year, organizers say the focus remains the same: supporting youth programs, maintaining community tradition, and delivering a competitive PRCA experience.
Prep Sports Central - Idaho reached out to fair officials and community members for comment but did not receive a response before publication.
For updated schedules and ticket information, visit the official Owyhee County Rodeo website or their social media pages.
This story was initially reported by a journalist and has been, in part, converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
