Woodford County Farm Bureau looks to make this growing sport, an annual event.

VERSAILLES, Ky. – It would seem like a perfect fit to have a rodeo in horse country, and while there are several large-scale events, having one at the local level may seem a little unusual.

Not so for the members of the Woodford County Farm Bureau (WCFB) whose members were looking for a way to become more involved in their community while increasing the coffers for their annual scholarship awards. 

WCFB President Jeremy Dotson said having seen many rodeos because of his daughter’s involvement in barrel racing, gave him an idea that it could be an event their local Farm Bureau could host.

“We started going to rodeos, and I saw all the people who came to these things and I went back and told our board members,” he said. “They got behind the idea and I never dreamed it would get as big as it's gotten in two years.”

The first year was one of challenges due to the need for bleachers at the local park where the event would be held.

"We had an arena for the rodeo to take place but nowhere to sit," Dotson said. "So, the board gave me their blessing to look for supporters in our community to help get the funds needed to buy the bleachers.”

That blessing worked as community support showed up. The bleachers were bought with the help of the local Fiscal Court, and as the first rodeo took place to the amazement of some and the gratitude of all.

"This event has become so popular so fast that we were able to go from a $4,000 scholarship budget last year to $24,000 this year," Dotson said.  "We also made our last bleacher payment this year and are ready to make this an annual event."

As with any event like this, community support is critical to its success, and something Dotson said has not been an issue.

“The community has supported it 100 percent; everyone from the fiscal court to the City of Versailles, to land development, all the local businesses, and the parks and recreation department,” Dotson said. “There are so many people to thank it's crazy but our board members and volunteers including the FFA and 4-H, really made this thing happen.”

While different rodeo associations across the country put on these types of events, Dotson had a different idea that would provide support beyond the county line.

“We were the first people to ever hire the Kentucky High School Rodeo Association to put on a rodeo,” so, at the end of the day, we didn't just help the kids here, we've helped kids all over the state by doing it this way,” he said. "A lot of those young people came up to me to thank us and we want this to be a place where they will want to come back to."

Dotson emphasized the importance of Farm Bureau being active and a big part of the community and because of this and other events Woodford County members are participating in and planning, they are meeting their goals.

“We started this rodeo event to help raise money for our scholarship program and to help the young people here in Woodford County,” he said. “But it has been so supported and our board deserves all the praise. Without them, none of this would have happened. It has just turned out to be a great event and has brought the whole community together.”