Bill Text: NY K00471 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

New York Assembly Resolution 471 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Commending the Gerry Rodeo upon the occasion of celebrating its 75th Anniversary

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-05-30 - adopted [K00471 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-K00471-Introduced.html


Assembly Resolution No. 471

BY: M. of A. Goodell

        COMMENDING  the  Gerry  Rodeo upon the occasion of
        celebrating its 75th Anniversary

  WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that  the  quality
and  character  of  life  of  the citizens of New York State are greatly
enriched by the availability of exceptional  recreational  organizations
which have become an important part of the history of our State; and

  WHEREAS,  Attendant  to  such  concern,  and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this  Legislative  Body  is  justly  proud  to
commend  Gerry  Rodeo,  the  longest running Professional Rodeo Cowboys'
Association (PRCA)  rodeo  east  of  the  Mississippi  River,  upon  the
occasion  of  its  75th Anniversary to be celebrated from July 31, 2019,
through August 3, 2019; and

  WHEREAS, This auspicious occasion  will  begin  with  opening  night
festivities followed by a myriad of events throughout the next few days;
during  this  time,  the  quiet Village of Gerry, New York, becomes "The
Rodeo Capital of the East" as approximately 200 professional cowboys and
cowgirls roll into town to compete for prizes; and

  WHEREAS, The Gerry Rodeo, sponsored  by  the  Gerry  Volunteer  Fire
Department,  got  its  start in 1945, when a former working cowboy named
Jack Cox suggested a rodeo as a way  of  raising  money  for  the  newly
formed  fire  department;  his  dream became a reality as members of the
department and  other  volunteers  in  70  days  turned  four  acres  of
swampland  into  an arena and parking lot in time for the arrival of the
renowned Colonel Jim Eskew and the livestock that first year; and

  WHEREAS, In those early days the  stock  arrived  by  train  in  the
middle  of  the hamlet, traffic was stopped, and the animals were herded
down the middle of Route 60 to the rodeo grounds by volunteers; now, the
stock arrives by modern semi-trucks, and several hundred  volunteers  of
all  ages  pitch  in  to make the event possible each year, filling jobs
from painting fences to serving the famous beef barbeque dinners; and

  WHEREAS, The Gerry Fire Department  felt  from  the  beginning  that
their  rodeo  should be "top-notch" so they have always contracted for a
rodeo sanctioned by the PRCA; the contractor for this year's event  will
again  be  Painted  Pony  Championship  Rodeo of Lake Luzerne, New York,
owned by the husband and wife team of Shawn and Shana Graham,  who  will
be bringing more than 100 head of stock for the competition; and

  WHEREAS,  Since  its  inception, many improvements have been made to
the rodeo facilities;  additional  land  has  been  acquired,  permanent
bleachers  have  been  installed in an arena seating 4,000, new lighting
turns night  to  day,  and  the  old  dining  hall  has  been  enlarged,
refurbished,  and  air-conditioned  to accommodate the hundreds who come
each year; and

  WHEREAS, Today, the rodeo consists of the same competitive events it
did 75 years ago: bareback bronc riding, tie-down roping,  saddle  bronc
riding,  bull riding, steer wrestling, team roping, and cowgirls' barrel

racing, with all the entrants competing for prizes which  counts  toward
qualification for the National Finals Rodeo; and

  WHEREAS, In addition, there are specialty acts such as trick riding,
animal   acts,  and  clowns;  a  recently  added  feature  allows  young
spectators to enter the arena  to  compete  for  prizes  as  they  chase
ribbons  tied  to  calves'  tails,  and  the kids' rodeo will be held on
Saturday; and

  WHEREAS, Over the years the profits from the rodeos has enabled  the
Fire  Department  to  purchase  modern fire and rescue equipment for the
protection of the residents of the town; currently, the  Department  has
two  pumpers,  a  tanker,  a  rescue  truck,  an ATV with trailer, and a
state-of-the-art ambulance to respond to more than 300 calls  per  year;
and

  WHEREAS,  Steeped  in  a  proud and distinguished history, the Gerry
Rodeo may take just pride in its purposeful growth, as it looks  forward
to continuing to serve the recreational needs of the community; and

  WHEREAS,  It  is  the  custom  of  this  Legislative  Body that when
organizations of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to  our
attention,  they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens
of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
commend  the  Gerry  Rodeo  upon  the  occasion  of celebrating its 75th
Anniversary; and be it further

  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted to the Gerry Rodeo.