In 2004, the founding year of the Clarkson Rodeo Days, Inc., our primary focus was to hold a charity event for our “Special Friends”. Over prior years, the founding group had many dealings with our neighbors at the arena where we ride from Lifetime Assistance. In addition, we had delivered horseback rides for visually and other disabled at Suny Brockport Camp Abilities and even for clients at the Rochester Psychiatric Center. A few of us had delivered presentations about the cowboy way of life and even spent time teaching a group of young actors and actresses how to spin a rope at the Greece Odyssey school for their presentation of “Annie Get Your Gun”.

We worked with our rodeo producer and decided to hold a “Special Friends Rodeo”. We hold this the Thursday prior to our normal rodeo and it is an invitation only complete rodeo for our “Special Friends”. We have grown our list of Special Friends to many groups in the tri county area that includes Monroe, Orleans and Genesee counties and even a group or two in Wayne County. Some of the groups in addition to all of the Lifetime Assistance clients are Al Sigl Center clients, ARC of Monroe, Orleans, Genesee and Wayne counties, VA Hospitals in Batavia and Canandaigua, Springdale Farm Day Program, Brockport Central and Kendall Central Schools, Rainbow Daycare, the Autistic Association, the Landing Nursing Home and many more.

We not only deliver a complete rodeo with all performers donating their and their animal’s time, we also ensure that every one of our Special Friends receives a beverage and a treat. There have been instances where one of our Special Friends will stop one of us in the stand after performing and ask us for our hat or an autograph, which we gladly give. There is nothing more rewarding than the smiles, laughter and cheers from this group. We are committed to continuing this event as the only major charity event on the APRA circuit at this time.

The event has grown from 300 attendees to over 600 in 2008. We hope to host over 1,000 in 2009 our 5th anniversary year. All of our profits from each prior year are to support this event and additional proceeds are donated back to several of these groups.

As with any not for profit, we can only continue and succeed with the support of our sponsors. If you are a company or individual who would be interested in sponsoring the continuation of this event, please contact us. If you are a “Special Friends” organization or individual who would like to attend the event, please contact us for more information.

Many thanks to all of those who have sponsored this event to date and please enjoy the pictures and we hope to have your continued support.

Gratefully and with our respect, The Officers and Board Members of the Clarkson Rodeo Days, Inc.