Volunteers who help produce the annual Cattlemen’s Days celebration know it takes great teamwork to pull off something of that magnitude.
From working with the carnival to organizing the 4-H and FFA exhibits to partnering with the rodeo contract personnel, little happens without that synergy. There’s no way Cattlemen’s Days is a success without it.
With 125 years invested, this is truly a community effort, and that’s being showcased more than ever with this year’s Cattlemen’s Days parade, set for 10 a.m. Saturday, July 13, along its traditional route.
“There was some talk about having to alter our parade route, shortening it to just four blocks on Main Street,” said Kevin Coblentz, a longtime volunteer with the organization. “Fortunately, we’ve had some people really step up so we can continue to have the type of parade this community is used to and that this town deserves.”
The most necessary adjustment was to provide barricades to help direct traffic, especially off E. Tomichi Avenue, where Hwy. 50 comes into town from Monarch Pass. Members of the volunteer committee were searching for ways to help pay the $12,000 fee it will take for a barrier company to provide assistance.
Local home health care provider Bre Norris made the first donation and got the ball rolling Then Richard Buffington decided to get involved. He’s the regional manager for Builders FirstSource, a millwork company that served as the presenting sponsor for the Colorado Stampede in Grand Junction, Colorado.
The company invested $5,000 into the project, and the foundation was laid.
“The city really stepped up and helped us,” Coblentz said, acknowledging City Manager Amanda Wilson and Streets Superintendent Jason Kibler. “Those two really helped us out with the negotiations, and we got another $6,000 from the city to help us with putting on the parade as we’ve always been able to.”
While it’s a community event, the Cattlemen’s Days parade is no small-town affair. It’s a big deal to residents and former residents. Many who are originally from Gunnison return to town for the annual celebration, which is why class reunions are always a special feature during the procession.
“The city continues to do a great job for this community,” Coblentz said. “I think Cattlemen’s Days has formed a great relationship with the city, and that’s always going to benefit everybody.”
The celebration began in 1900 and features the oldest continuous rodeo in Colorado. Cattlemen’s Days was created as a way to bring everyone in the county to town for fun-filled events and a chance to gather together. It may have been the only time all year that friends saw one another, and that legacy continues today.
“Everybody wants to see our 125th year be successful,” Coblentz said. “I think that’s a big reason why this all came together. This is what our community needs.”
(Ted Harbin is the Cattlemen’s Days media director.)
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