CAVE CREEK – Following a somewhat contentious agenda item during the Jan. 3 council meeting concerning the town’s agreement with Cave Creek Pro Rodeo (CCPR) regarding the Fiesta Days Rodeo and Parade, for what would be its 40th year, the town learned, accidentally, the reason the Desert Foothills Community Association (DFCA), the 501(c)3 umbrella nonprofit organization that puts on the rodeo, had not yet submitted its application for the town’s signature and historic event.
Apparently the DFCA board had already decided to move Cave Creek’s historic community event to Buckeye, and what it had posted on its website announcing the Fiesta Days Rodeo on March 30-31 and April 1, 2017 at the Cave Creek Memorial Arena, is now announcing the event as Fiesta Days Pro Rodeo to be held March 31 and April 1, 2017 at the South Buckeye Equestrian Event Center.
Many of the public’s comments during the Jan. 3 meeting had to do with the Fiesta Days Rodeo and Parade being a community event for the past 39 years.
When Mayor Ernie Bunch confronted them directly about the rumors they were considering moving the rodeo, CCPR representatives stated they were and that it would be a business decision in their quest to “grow the rodeo.”
However, the CCPR board was asking the town to make costly improvements to the rodeo grounds without making any commitment to keep the rodeo in Cave Creek.
CCPR had asked the town to make electrical improvements, expected to cost the town approximately $40,000, so it would not have to rent generators.
In announcing this year’s event on CCPR’s website, it states they are introducing a new schedule for their rodeo performances and would be going to all evening performances beginning at 7:30 p.m. with Saturday’s performances to be followed by a live concert in the arena, which drew numerous complaints from neighbors last year.
It appears the board has been looking into moving the rodeo since at least 2014, as indicated by the DFCA suddenly registering various trade names on Sept. 1, 2014, including: Cave Creek Rodeo, Fiesta Days Rodeo and Cave Creek Pro Rodeo. That coincides with when CCPR was one of five rodeos nominated for the Pro Rodeo Cowboy Association Small Rodeo of the Year award.
The DFCA’s website, CaveCreekProRodeo.com, which now redirects to FiestaDaysProRodeo.com still announces, as of Jan. 16 anyway, “The CCPR Committee produces three full PRCA Rodeo performances, along with the Historic Parade, Kickoff Dance and Mutton Bustin’ Competition. These events are all part of the Cave Creek Fiesta Days™ Rodeo celebration that started in 1977. 2017 marks our 40th Anniversary Celebration! The Cave Creek Fiesta Days Rodeo is the only PRCA rodeo in Cave Creek, AZ and Rodeo Weekend has become the largest attended and most anticipated event in our area.”
And, while their website proclaims the 2017 Fiesta Days Kickoff Celebration will take place on March 25th and states, “Please join us for this fun-filled day celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Cave Creek Fiesta Days Rodeo,” it neglects to mention it plans to celebrate its 40th Anniversary of history in Cave Creek 65 miles away in Buckeye.
The DFCA’s mission statement, as posted on volunteermatch.com, states the following:
“The objectives of the Desert Foothills Community Association are:
- Produce events that demonstrate, promote and preserve the western heritage of our community, the State of Arizona, and the United States of America.
- Produce moderately priced, family oriented events that make a positive contribution to the economy of our community through increased merchant receipts and local sales tax revenues. Our events are worthy of business advertisements, corporate sponsorships and community support.
- Generate entertainment for raising revenue sufficient for the DFCA to support several events each calendar year.
- Support local charities, organizations and causes that help the disadvantaged in the community with a special emphasis on children/youth.
Their mission statement also states: “The Desert Foothills Community Association (DFCA) is an all-volunteer, 501(c)3 non-profit Arizona corporation headquartered in Cave Creek, Arizona. The DFCA is governed by a Board of Directors consisting on no less than seven and no more than eleven elected members according to our current By-laws.”
While the board is currently made up of four members, Casale said amendments have been made to their bylaws at some point in time and they hired a lawyer to make sure they were in compliance.
It appears the DFCA has forgotten the “community” part of its name, while the community, many members of which have been commenting on Facebook, are not pleased that the “largest attended and most anticipated event in the area” has essentially been hijacked by the CCPR board whose members do not live in Cave Creek.
Their website announces that tickets go on sale January 2017 through TicketForce.com. However, tickets do not appear to be currently available for the event at any venue.
When Sonoran News spoke to Casale on Monday, she said the board met last Wednesday and the majority of their approximately 50 members, of which only two live in Cave Creek, said they would walk if the rodeo stayed in Cave Creek.
Since the rodeo is produced by an all-volunteer effort, Casale said they couldn’t put the rodeo on without their volunteers and, although she said she abstained from the final deliberations, the board voted to hold this year’s rodeo in Buckeye.
When asked if the local sponsors were aware the rodeo was being moved, Casale said some did but stated there really weren’t all that many local sponsors.
She then explained DFCA/CCPR Treasurer Stacy Tucker said the town deserved to know first and deferred all other notifications until after the town was notified, only learn, after the fact, that town hall is closed on Fridays and was closed again on Monday due to the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.
Meanwhile, information about the rodeo moving to Buckeye leaked out and spread like wildfire over the weekend.
According to Casale, the lowest percentage of ticket sales are from the 85331 zip code, so, she said it is not an event well-attended by Creekers.
Casale stated they would be producing two shows in Buckeye this year and then see where things go from there.
She said the town can take a year off and then do what it wants to do.
However, she does believe DFCA/CCPR’s relationship with the town has been irreparably damaged.
