Easy Rider Rodeo won’t be held in 2022
CHILLICOTHE – The Ross County Fair Board voted to not hold the Easy Rider Rodeo event in 2022.
The event has been held at the Ross County Fairgrounds for over 30 years.
The vote to not offer Easyrider Rodeo a contract to hold their event at the Ross County Fairgrounds was carried, 15-2.
At the Monday board meeting, Sheriff George Lavender and members of his command staff addressed the board, and provided a video of drone footage of this year's rodeo, according to meeting notes from the board obtained by the
Gazette.
The sheriff reportedly described a situation that took place this year during the event that he felt put the lives of his deputies and possibly the community at large in a life-threatening situation, and made clear to the board that although the sheriff 's office would respond to calls as provided by law, the sheriff 's office would no longer provide security for the event.
Lavender stated that he was "in no way intending to sway the board in making a decision to not continue to allow the event on the fairgrounds only to point out his concerns for the community."
Prior to the meeting, the board received approximately ten emails requesting the board consider allowing the event to continue which were forwarded to every board member.
The board also received a copy of an email sent to board member Gary Prater from Dusty Countryman, who signed the email as the Chairman, Ice Sales Committee, First Capital Rotary, which was distributed to the board members present prior to the start of the meeting.
"I think the biggest thing is that it does have an economic impact to both the organizations and towns that use that as fundraisers, as well as the local economy," Countryman told the Gazette.
The Easy Rider Rodeo is one of the biggest fundraising events the First
Capital Rotary holds every year.
In 2021-2022, Rodeo Ice Sales have made up 48% of total fundraising. In '19-20, it made up 47% percent. With that money, First Capital has donated to organizations such as Rolling Thunder, Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Ohio, Bishop Flaget School, and the Ross County Coalition against Domestic Violence among many others.
Eighteen of the 21 voting board members were present at the meeting, including President Brad Cosenza, who, as president, is only allowed to vote in case of a tie.
The Ross County Sheriff's Office was not immediately available for comment.