JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. — Let’s go, let’s show, let’s rodeo!
WW Productions, doing business as Jackson Hole Rodeo, was approved for another five years as the producer of the local rodeo at a town council meeting earlier this week. The Wilson family has been the rodeo concessionaire since 2009 when it took over from the Moses family.
The Wilsons received a little bonus in the approval as well. The usual 4-year contract was extended out another year to five total in an effort to align the end of the rodeo contract with the expiration of the lease of the fairgrounds with the county in 2026.
“We feel like we’ve been blessed to put on a quality rodeo that the town and community can be happy with,” Phil Wilson told the council Monday night.
Town Councilman Jonathan Schechter said, “We are very fortunate to have such a high-quality rodeo going on. It’s a wonderful, wonderful thing.”
Town Council has not yet engaged in official dialogue about the future of the land now occupied by the fair and rodeo grounds beyond 2026, but all speculation is the rodeo grounds would be moving to make way for housing. Both the town and county have expressed interest in seeing a new rodeo/fair grounds as part of the Northern South Park planning process.
A grassroots effort and petition gathering is underway to “Save the Rodeo Grounds.” It is being spearheaded by Eyes on Teton County.
At Monday’s virtual meeting of the Town Council, Phil Wilson virtually presented a real check for $285,000 as the town’s take (10% of the gate) for allowing horses and other livestock to entertain visitors twice weekly all summer.
Business must have been good this summer. In year’s past, the town payout has been: $75,415 (2020), $145,348 (2019), $129,036 (2018), $123,960 (2017).
