Gunnison rodeo earns honor

Cattlemen’s Days receives Sowing Good Deeds award in Vegas

GUNNISON, Colo. – When it was established nearly 124 years ago, Cattlemen’s Days was a way for residents from across the Gunnison Valley to gather together and celebrate the community and the work they do.

It continues thanks to dedicated volunteers who donate their time and talents to support not only the people in the region but to honor the rich agriculture history in Gunnison County. Over the years, the volunteer-driven Cattlemen’s Days committee has continued to give back.

That’s at the heart of its most recent honor, being named the winner of the Hesston by Massey Ferguson’s Sowing Good Deeds award, which was presented to key volunteers Wednesday, Dec. 6, at the PRCA Awards Banquet in Las Vegas.

“We are proud to receive an honor like this on behalf of the people of Gunnison,” said Brad Tutor, president of the Cattlemen’s Days committee. “It’s always been our mission to give back to our community. Several years ago, we established our Tough Enough to Wear Pink campaign, which is one of the reasons we were able to win this award.

“I think the award is a testament to our volunteers, who established Pink and other giving parts of our committee many years ago. We have a lot of people who donate their time to Cattlemen’s Days, whether it’s for Tough Enough to Wear Pink or running the livestock show or making sure our rodeo is exceptional for the people of Gunnison.”

The foundation was established more than a century ago, and it continues through this generation because of the commitment locals make to giving back to the community. The Sowing Good Deeds award is an honor to PRCA-sanctioned rodeos that contribute to local, regional and national charities. Cattlemen’s Days, which has been a finalist since the award’s inception, became the sixth rodeo committee to earn the honor.

“Our committee has never been about focusing on one aspect of what we do,” said Tyler Hanson, the organization’s first vice president. “We have always pushed to be the best in what we’re trying to do. We want to have the best rodeo. We want to have a livestock show and exhibits that honors our kids and honors the exhibitors.”

“I’m proud of what we do as a group. There are many people involved in Cattlemen’s Days that make sure we’re doing all the right things. I think the tractor we receive for winning this award is the perfect symbol of the hard-working people in Gunnison County.”

For information, contact Ted Harbin
(660) 254-1900
imteditor@gmail.com