Organizers call 102nd Clovis Rodeo a big success

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The unofficial numbers for the Clovis Rodeo are in and it's already looking pretty good.

Organizers for the rodeo did a rough count and say they had more than 40,000 people come through.

The packed crowds for the 102nd Clovis Rodeo led to big numbers and a rewarding overall turnout for organizers.

"We had capacity crowds four days in a row and had over 45,000 people come through and enjoy all the rodeo events," Greg Gillard with the Clovis Rodeo Association said.

Gillard said the success proves that one of the biggest changes made this year paid off.

"We became a gold rodeo this year so we are paying out $20,000 per event which gets us some of the best cowboys that come to Clovis," he explained.

Vendors like Cassie Dorrell packed up her trailer to leave and reaped the benefits of the larger crowds also.

She tells Action News that despite a little rain on day two of the rodeo, they sold close to a hundred cowboy hats, more than a dozen boots, and even a some bales of hay.

"A few things got wet but couldn't ask for a better outcome," she said. "We'll definitely be back next year."

And the 500 Club in Old Town Clovis could not have asked for a better outcome too. Business was at an all time high during the four-day event.

"I do whatever has to be done whether it's cleaning the bathrooms, picking the trash off the floor doing the dishes helping my servers we do, what just has to be done," Cindy Sarantos said.

And they're already mentally preparing to do it all over again since early bird tickets for next year's Clovis Rodeo go on sale Monday.