Equine facilities impact communities in more ways than one

One facility has been in the same location for more than a 100 years. Another for close to 20 years and one more is just getting its feet wet. For three places that host equine events in southwest Kansas, the impact on their communities can be measured in a couple of ways.

Many equine enthusiasts and competitors travel to events around their local areas while others criss-cross the country competing. When they travel, they need food, fuel, feed for the horses and hotel rooms. Some bring shopping lists when they travel to bigger cities and stock up on necessities before or after they compete.

In its 2017 Economic Impact Study, the American Horse Council found the U.S. equine industry generates approximately $122 billion in total economic impact, up from $102 billion in a 2005 study.

“Those involved in the equine industry already know how important it is to the U.S. economy,” AHC President Julie Broadway said in a press release. “Having these updated numbers is critical not only to the AHC’s efforts up on Capitol Hill, but also for the industry to demonstrate to the general public how much of a role the equine has in American households.”

Finney County

The Finney County Fairgrounds in Garden City, Kansas, has hosted events in one way or other in the same location since about 1892, said Angie Clark, certified fair executive and director at the Finney County Fairgrounds.

“Originally it started on Fair Street in 1886,” she said. According to the Finney County Museum and Historical Society, the fair moved to its current location on 9th Street in Garden City in 1892.

The fairgrounds has grown into a facility capable of housing about 120 horses when events come to town. Workers are able to move stalls around and accommodate events as needed.

“We feel we have been blessed to host some really neat equine events here at our facility,” Clark said. “Equine enthusiasts take great care of their livestock, have great husbandry skills and these same characteristics translate to the respect that they show to our facility while they are here as guests competing.”

The Finney County Fairgrounds hosts National Little Britches Rodeo Association, National High School Rodeo Association (high school and junior high events), National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association and Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association rodeos as well as their Southwest Spectacular horse show, the Finney County Fair horse show and Southwest Barrel Racing Association jackpots and Better Barrel Races shows at their facility.

Clark has been able to work cooperatively with Garden City Community College to help accommodate contestants in college rodeos and ones it produces. GCCC has an indoor arena west of the fairgrounds and holds their events there.

“We’re able to facilitate the contestants over here at the fairgrounds with RV hookups and our stall barns,” Clark said. “So we work very closely with the coaches and the community college for those two events. It’s a resource we have for other events if (there is) inclement weather.”

The FCFG has 63 acres with 22 structures, and last year hosted 1,290 events. The Finney County Convention and Visitors Bureau told Clark for the most recent Beef Empire Days PRCA Rodeo, visitors and contestants spent approximately $271,582 in the Garden City community with 535 hotel room nights in occupancy.

“We feel the facility has a huge economic impact on our community,” she said. “Any time you bring visitors from out of town to your community, they’re going to spend dollars in your community.”

Scott County

The Scott County Indoor Arena and Activities Center started as a labor of love for the horse people of Scott City, Kansas. According to their website, http://www.scaac.net, the arena was completed during the summer of 2000, but work to get it built started years before that.

Scott City resident and real estate agent Deb Lawrence started getting bids in 1996 to build an indoor arena in Scott City. She began talking to friends Bill Walker and Joy Cole about joining forces to get the project off the ground.

“Joy and I worked for approximately five years to raise funds to get it built,” Lawrence said. “It was built entirely with donated funds and donated labor. We didn’t get any county or government money—it was all given by people or organizations who believed in the project.”

Lawrence said in the first 10 years, the facility has held a number of events, big and small. It has been used for high school rodeos, barrel races, team ropings, mounted shootings, ranch rodeos, clinics, all school reunions and even a circus. Current SCAAC President Clif Morrison added it has been the site for a funeral and the facility has been used as county hazardous waste collection site along with county road equipment storage during winter storms.

“It has a huge impact on the local economy,” Lawrence said. “That was one of our main goals, along with a facility that the area residents could use and enjoy.”

Current SCAAC Secretary Leah Jennison said when events are in town, there is no doubt the impact can be seen.

“It is hard to miss a large group of trailers at a local restaurant or gas station,” she said. “One thing we have noticed is that most of these events don’t bring just the contestant to town, but instead bring friends and family along with the contestant.”

The arena got off the ground with many generous donations, both Lawrence and Jennison said. Most recently they’ve added the Justin Martin Wash Rack, the Harry Latousch Stall Barn and many other features.

The Scott County Sales Tax committee has helped with features like new lighting, the covered alley, and grounds keeping equipment being added, Jennison said.

“The biggest thing that has helped the expansion of the facility is the labor from all the volunteers, from the first volunteers that helped get donations and build the facility, to all the board members since the inception that have donated their time to keep the arena going,” Jennison said. “We are constantly looking for ways to add value to our facility and make it better for contestants and producers.”

Nanci Pratt, SCAAC treasurer, said the facility’s day-to-day operations are the responsibility of a seven-member board of volunteers who serve 3-year terms under the Scott County Commission.

“A 2010 usage report showed 236 uses involving approximately 9,780 people,” Pratt said. “The facility offers year round, climate controlled availability.”

Ford County

The Western State Bank Expo Center, in Dodge City, is one of the newest facilities in southwest Kansas. Danielle Crouch, WSBEC director has been with the facility since it opened in June 2012.

It is owned by Ford County, operated by Ford County staff, has a full-time staff of three and additional part-time help as needed for events. The Center has hosted numerous equine and equine-related events and activities, including nationally-sanctioned events like the World Series of Team Roping and Patriot Team Roping qualifiers, and the Women’s Ranch Rodeo World Finals. Also, the Young Guns Timed Event Extravaganza is held each winter. Events draw participants from more than a dozen states, in addition to many local and statewide participants, Crouch said. Plus, the arena is available year round for private rentals.

Individuals can rent the arena in four-hour time blocks to practice their events or keep their horses legged up. Ford County 4-H also uses the facility for practice to prepare for the fair each year. The arena has also been featured on shows such as RFD-TVs “Best of America by Horseback” and Kerry Kuhn Horsemanship.

In 2017, the WSBEC hosted 103 equine-related events and activities. That number included multi-day events and single day private rentals. Crouch said to date in 2018, the facility has 69 scheduled events and the number will likely increase with private rentals being scheduled.

“Other events held at the facility include livestock sales, AKC/UKC dog shows, trade shows, vendor shows, conferences and training, agriculture shows and private parties,” Crouch said.

WSBEC’s impact is significant, in Crouch’s opinion.

“Businesses such as gas stations, restaurants, retail stores, hotels and entertainment facilities all benefit from equine events, as well as other genres,” she said. “In addition to the monetary impact, these events bring guests to our area that may or may not have ever had the opportunity, or reason, to visit here and see what Ford County, and southwest Kansas, has to offer.”

A facility like the WSBEC also has a social benefit for the community, as it helps continue the western heritage and traditions Dodge City was founded upon.

“In addition, many equine events are youth events which teach responsibility, horsemanship, ethics and builds self-confidence and traditional values for the participants,” Crouch said.

The Expo Center was recently awarded funds from The Mariah Fund to purchase 20 horse stalls to complete a horse stall project.

“Currently, the facility is home to 120 horse stalls which are often filled to capacity for equine events,” Crouch said. “In the last two years the facility has increased the seating capacity around the arena, added fans on the dirt side for ventilation and air flow, and constructed a stall barn complete with water, electricity and a wash rack.”

Crouch is also working on a design to expand a portion of the building to make a place for a new concession area, restrooms with showers and small commons area for the arena side.

“This expansion is very exciting and one that I hope can become a reality in the near future,” she said.

For more information about WSBEC visit www.westernstatebankexpo.com.

Kylene Scott can be reached at 620-227-1804 or [email protected].