The following has been published on wluctv6.com's letters page and will be submitted to other media for publication as well. While I have not attended the rodeo annually it is an event that has a significant chance of bringing tourism, money, and progress to Iron County if properly run.

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Iron River - The UP Championship Rodeo has not been doing well recently. I am not surprised. They have failed to attract an audience because there has been no out of town advertising. Chicago, Milwaukee, Twin Cities, Fox Valley, Green Bay, Appleton, and Detroit are important markets for us. When was the last time we had a banner across US2. That little sign next to The Middle School is hardly worth mentioning.

The Rodeo once was, and should have remained, a major regional event. Given a reasonable entrepreneurial approach, it would be. Similar events in other places not only advertise heavily in all TV markets up to a day's drive away, they also manage to get national and international sponsors. But that requires planning and having a vision apparently lacking in the Rodeo Board. Properly managed the UP Rodeo would have had a paid, year round, full time marketing staff to promote the rodeo and to assure the interest of significant sponsors.

It seems to me what we have needed is a Rodeo Board that operates like a business. If you can't get it done with local talent, then don't be afraid to hire an outside consultant to manage the business aspects. We hired outsiders to do the Cloverland, Crystal Manor, and The Central School. Why stop there? By giving up, as announced, is this going to be like the Snowmobile Derby, made into a success by others a mere 35 miles away?

I urge the Rodeo Committee to take another crack at keeping the Rodeo in Iron County. But that won't be successful unless those in control are willing to look take an entrepreneurial approach to improving. Please ask yourselves, "What would Donald Trump do to make this Rodeo a success?" If you can't, then get someone who can.

The above represents the activism of Bill Vajk
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